FRANKLIN COUNTY, Mo. – A man who formerly worked in a Franklin County school district faces felony charges, accused of child sex crimes while employed.
The Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged Dustin J. Cowsert, 28, with two counts of statutory rape, statutory sodomy, attempted enticement of a child, sexual contact with a student and sexual misconduct involving a child under 15 years old amid the investigation.
According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Cowsert was formerly employed in the Meramec Valley R-III School District. Court documents state that he allegedly engaged in sexual acts with a student some time between Nov. 1, 2022 and May 31, 2023.
If convicted on all charges, Cowsert could face up to 36 years behind bars, per court documents.
Following Cowsert’s charges, the Meramec Valley R-III School District shared this statement with FOX 2 on Monday:
“The District was recently notified of allegations of misconduct by a former district employee and is cooperating fully with law enforcement to address the situation. The former employee was placed on leave prior to the start of school and has since been terminated. Ensuring the safety and well-being of our students is our top priority. We condemn this alleged conduct and want to reassure the community that such behavior is completely contrary to the values of our school community. We have policies in place to prevent and address this type of misconduct, and we are following these policies in investigating and addressing this situation. We remain dedicated to providing safe environments for learning and student success.”
