Former New Melle cop found guilty of harassment
February 10, 2011
BY SHANE ANTHONY

ST. CHARLES COUNTY - A former New Melle police sergeant was found guilty Wednesday of harassing an elementary school teacher but not guilty of violating a protection order she filed against him.

Terry G. Calahan, 40, could be sentenced to up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine for sending sexual text messages to the woman in September 2009. But stopping her for alleged traffic violations in December 2009 did not violate a protection order she filed against him, a judge ruled Wednesday after a one-day bench trial on the two misdemeanor charges.

Calahan resigned from the department for undisclosed reasons about two weeks before the charges were filed.

Calahan, his wife, Kim, and the teacher became friends in the spring of 2009, according to testimony. In September 2009, Terry Calahan sent a series of text messages to the woman. Some said he loved her. At least three said he wanted to have sex with her, and some were explicit.

Terry and Kim Calahan testified that such conversations were normal with the woman when they socialized.

The woman said she had told Terry Calahan not to send her sexually explicit texts and that she had no romantic interest in him.

Another text said, "I'm watching you." The woman said that message frightened her.

A few days later, Calahan left New Melle while he was on duty and in uniform and stayed at the woman's house for several hours until his shift ended at 3 a.m., she testified. She said she didn't ask him to leave because she was afraid.

After that incident, she filed a complaint with Police Chief Aaron Burkemper and applied for a protection order.

A full order was never issued, but a temporary order was in effect when, on Dec. 10, 2009, Calahan pulled over the woman on Highway Z for alleged traffic violations.

Calahan said he at first didn't realize it was the woman's car and after stopping the vehicle, called Burkemper to tell him who was driving. Burkemper testified that he told Calahan to call for backup. Calahan wrote three tickets that were later dropped.

Judge Norman C. Steimel said he did not think prosecutors proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the traffic stop was without merit, leading him to find Calahan not guilty of violating the protection order.

Steimel said the text messages asking for sex — at least three by his count — were unwanted, repeated communication.

Part of his decision rested with the credibility of witnesses, including Terry Calahan, he said. At one point, Calahan said he had not pleaded guilty of a crime, even though an assistant prosecutor showed him a certified copy of court documents from Pettis County, Mo., saying he had been placed on probation for misdemeanor sexual abuse.

Steimel scheduled sentencing for March 7.