Wadel found guilty on child sex abuse charges

Thursday, December 1st, a Bates County Jury found 28 year old Christopher Wadel guilty of child sexual abuse and child endangerment. Prosecuting Attorney Hugh C. Jenkins presented the State's case and the Jury deliberated for just over 4 hours before finding Wadel guilty on two counts of Statutory Sodomy, one count of Statutory Rape and two counts of Child Endangerment. Wadel was found not guilty on the charge of assault and felony child abuse. Judge James Journey presided over the 3 day trial.

Expert testimony was given by professional forensic interviewers from the Children's Centers in Butler and Nevada, Missouri and the Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. These professionals are trained specifically to deal with the trauma of child sexual abuse and forensic evidence of the abuse was presented by the State. Testimony was also heard from both of the victims, the grandparents and the natural mother of the children. Christopher Wadel did not testify.

In May of 2010 a report was made to the Bates County Sheriff's Department alleging physical abuse of the children and as the investigation continued, the young victims, ages 4 and 5 when the crimes were committed disclosed that sexual abuse had occurred.

Wadel was arrested in January of 2011 and has been in the Bates County jail since that time. After the verdict was read, Wadel was immediately taken into custody and returned to the Bates County Jail to await sentencing scheduled for the February 2012 trial week.

-Bates County Prosecuting Attorney, Hugh C. Jenkins