ST. LOUIS • A former St. Louis Fire Department recruit lured a 12-year-old girl to go with him by telling her he she could trust him because he was a firefighter, then sexually abused her, authorities say.

Mark Bush, 38, of the 6700 block of Chamberlain Avenue in University City, was charged Wednesday with child molestation, supplying liquor to a minor and two counts each of statutory rape and statutory sodomy.

Bush was a city fire recruit in May 2013 when he allegedly picked up a then-12-year-old girl, telling her she should could trust him and to get into his car because he was a firefighter, police say in charges.

Bush then gave the girl liquor, took her to a motel in the 4500 block of Natural Bridge Avenue and sexually abused her, charges say.

Bush was not in custody Wednesday. Bail in the case was set at $300,000 cash-only.

Capt. Gregg Favre of the St. Louis Fire Department said Bush was terminated in May 2013.