Missouri legislative aide who tried to entice 14-year-old jailed on sex-crime charge

A legislative aide to a Missouri state representative is in jail on a sex-crime charge of attempting to entice a 14-year-old girl online.

Carter Ballmann, 24, of Jefferson City, was arrested Tuesday at the state capitol, where he worked for Rep. Mark Matthiesen, a Maryland Heights Republican. Ballman has since been fired from Matthiesen's office.

According to the Boone County Sheriff's Department, Ballmann responded to a social media post made by an undercover officer of the Boone County Cyber Crimes Task Force. The officer was posing as a 14-year-old girl.

Ballmann allegedly tried to persuade the "girl" to provide him with nude photos and to sneak out of her house.

The task force executed a search warrant at Ballmann's residence. He is being held in the Cole County jail on $100,000 bond.

Ballmann earned $24,682 last year as a legislative aide.

Matthiesen has issued a statement regarding the arrest.

"I am stunned and deeply concerned by Carter Ballman’s arrest and the extremely serious nature of the criminal charge filed against him," the statement said. "While I think it’s important to allow the legal system to determine his guilt or innocence, I have made the immediate decision to end his employment with my office. I have provided complete cooperation with law enforcement in this matter and will continue to do so going forward. Out of respect for the ongoing investigation and the legal process, I will not comment further."

The Star's Missouri Capitol writer Jason Hancock contributed to this story.

This story was originally published April 19, 2018 at 12:35 PM with the headline "Missouri legislative aide who tried to entice 14-year-old jailed on sex-crime charge."