⏱ 2 min read
A former North County Police Cooperative officer, Marcellis Blackwell, 36, of St. Louis, has admitted to sexually assaulting 18 men after detaining or arresting them between November 8, 2022, and June 5, 2023. The assaults typically occurred after traffic stops or arrests, with Blackwell often taking his victims to remote locations, including a high school and the back parking lot of his department. Sixteen of the victims were handcuffed at the time of the abuse.
Blackwell’s crimes came to light on June 4, 2023, when one of his victims from the previous day contacted the North County Police Cooperative, prompting an investigation that was later taken over by the FBI. As more victims came forward, the scope of Blackwell’s abuse became clear, with the officer admitting to falsifying reports and deactivating his body-worn camera to conceal his crimes.
Blackwell has pleaded guilty to 18 counts of deprivation of rights under color of law and faces a potential sentence of 30 years in prison. The U.S. Attorney’s office will request this sentence when Blackwell is sentenced on November 24. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christine Krug and Jennifer Szczucinski.
The investigation and subsequent guilty plea serve as a stark reminder of the trust placed in law enforcement officers and the devastating consequences when that trust is betrayed. The victims of Blackwell’s abuse will likely suffer long-term effects, and the community will be left to grapple with the aftermath of these heinous crimes.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Sex Crimes
- Defendant: Missouri
- Location: MO
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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