Highland area police briefs for June 22-28

Editor’s note: The following incidents were listed among the official reports of local law enforcement agencies and court clerks. Readers are reminded that an arrest or charge does not constitute a finding of guilt. Only a court of law can make that determination.

Softball coach accused of sex crimes involving children

Illinois State Police announced on Tuesday of last week the arrest of a 54-year-old Troy man on a host of sex crimes charges that police say involved a pair of his young players while he was a softball coach.

Michael A. Rasmussen is in the Madison County Jail on $500,000 bond facing charges of predatory criminal sexual assault of a child, attempted predatory sexual assault of a child, two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and six counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

According to authorities, Rasmussen was a Khoury League softball coach in Maryville. The victims were 11 years old when the alleged abuse took place two years ago.

A statement released by ISP did not include any more details but urged anyone with further information about Rasmussen to contact them at (618) 346-3779.

A court date for Rasmussen has not been set.

Troy man shocked by power line at Mascoutah construction site dies

The construction worker who was electrocuted Thursday morning, June 25 at a worksite in Mascoutah died early Friday, according to his employer and a relative.

Joshua T. Morgan, 35, of Troy was working with two others at an apartment complex site near Nathan Avenue and Douglas Avenue when the other workers called 911 after hearing a loud popping sound shortly before 11 a.m. Morgan was transported to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville and then transferred to St. Louis University Hospital, where he later died.

Peter Foschiatti, the owner of Bunker Hill-based Foschiatti Construction, confirmed Monday that Morgan had died but declined further comment.

Family and friends will gather for a memorial at 3 p.m. Sunday at Premier Martial Arts, 121 Main St. in Collinsville.

Morgan leaves behind his wife and three daughters. A GoFundMe page for his family has raised $1,055.

Maryville police find owner of recovered guns

Maryville police believe they have identified the owners of the guns taken during a traffic stop last weekend, and as suspected, they were stolen property.

Maryville police officers stopped a car with two juveniles at 2:30 a.m. Friday and found several firearms, including four long guns. Neither juvenile had a Firearm Owner Identification card through the state of Illinois, and the juveniles refused to tell the police where they acquired them. Police released photos of the firearms publicly and through social media in the hopes that someone would recognize them.

Now the Maryville Police Department’s Facebook page states that the guns’ owner recognized them and came forward. As suspected, the weapons had been taken in a residential burglary, according to the post, and the owner had been unaware that they were missing.

The juveniles had not yet been charged pending identification of the weapons. According to the police department’s post, the case is still under investigation and will be presented to the Madison County State’s Attorney when completed.

HPD misdemeanor warrant arrest

▪ Joseph T. Morgan, 29, of Belleville was arrested on June 24 on a warrant for failure to appear in court on a charge of driving while having a suspended license.

HPD misdemeanors, citations

June 22

▪ No tickets issued.

June 23

▪ Michael B. Moss, 47, of Highland was charged with unlawful interference with visitation. The incident allegedly occurred in May.

▪ Austin E. Goldsborough, 19, of Highland was charged with violation of an order of protection.

June 24

▪ Matthew K. Fox, 37, of Highland was charged with criminal trespass to land for allegedly being at an apartment on Suppiger Lane owned by Terra Properties after having been told previously not to be there. He was cited by Highland police twice last week for allegedly having trespassed at the same location. The latest citation was the seventh time Fox has been charged by HPD with criminal trespass in 2015. The other four times were all at different locations in the city.

▪ A juvenile, 17, of Highland was charged with having an expired vehicle registration.

June 25

▪ No tickets issued.

June 26

▪ Dillyn G. Riechmann, 27, of Highland was charged with driving while having a suspended/revoked license and having a suspended/revoke vehicle registration.

June 27

▪ Alison L. Kruep, 25, of Highland was charged with driving while having a suspended/revoked license.

▪ Peggy L. Sartoris, 66, of Edwardsville was charged with having an expired vehicle registration.

June 28

▪ No tickets issued.

This story was originally published July 2, 2015 at 3:00 AM with the headline "Highland area police briefs for June 22-28."