Springfield police: Man bragged about sex with children

A Springfield man is in jail after multiple reports that the man committed sexual acts with a 4-year-old girl.

The most recent report came March 5, when a tip came through on the Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline that John C. Heisler, 40, bragged to neighbors that he had committed sexual acts with children younger than 7 years old while he was on an “elongated drug binge.”

Police interviewed a witness who said Heisler had been using methamphetamine when he made several graphic statements about his history with children.

Heisler was arrested the same day.

Police first received information on Heisler about a year ago, after a woman he lived with, Nikkole Morgan, admitted to having sex with a 6-year-old child, and said that Heisler had sex with a 4-year-old.

No sexual assault charges have been filed against Morgan, according to online court records, though children who were living in the home were removed by the Greene County Juvenile Office, according to the department’s chief officer, Perry Epperly.

According to a probable cause statement, Morgan told a Boys and Girls Town employee that she and Heisler both committed sexual acts with children.

The employee told police that Heisler would go to the Boys and Girls Town office “almost daily” and reported multiple professions including “rock star, doctor, master gardener and attorney.”

Officials attempted to interview the alleged child victims at the Child Advocacy Center but “neither were able to complete the interview due to a lack of comprehension and communications skills.”

Officials noted the 4-year-old girl “showed no signs of potty training” and was “developmentally delayed.”

Morgan later told police that Heisler would “make” her do “sexual things” to the children, according to the statement.

Police attempted to speak with Heisler at that time, around March 2013, but he refused to come to the police department, according to the document.

Police say Heisler’s neighbors fear him because he regularly carries a handgun. Police reported he had the handgun at the time of his arrest.

“I learned that Heisler was involved in a shooting incident where he had shot a male who did not cooperate with the investigation,” police said. No name of a victim is listed in documents.

The day he was arrested, Heisler was interviewed at the Greene County Jail.

Police reported Heisler was “difficult to keep focused on specific questions” and “would not provide me with specific answers to questions asked.”

Heisler told police he taught at Mercy Hospital, but could not elaborate or give the name of anyone who would back up that statement.

“He stated he consulted with doctors and researches from around the world but did not provide any names to any of these individuals,” police wrote. “Heisler spoke about his ability to ‘grow human body parts’ and that he understood the elements of the periodic chart extensively.”

Heisler is charged with two counts of first-degree statutory sodomy. Because the alleged victim is younger than 12 years old, Heisler faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison with a possible life sentence if convicted.

He’s in the Greene County Jail, with a bond set at $125,000.

Prosecutors originally asked for a $75,000 bond for Heisler, but Judge Jason Brown raised it to $125,000.

Some information — such as names of victims, relationships with a defendant or locations of crimes — can be missing in News-Leader stories about sexual offenses and domestic abuse. That’s due in part to a state law that redacts the identities of victims, making some information unavailable to report. The News-Leader also tries to protect victim identities, unless victims want to speak out.