Former Cassville woman charged federally with possession of child porn

An Aurora woman who was charged with three felonies in Barry County is now charged in U.S. District Court with possession of child pornography, and an accelerated jury trial has been schedule for Aug. 12.

Makensie Koehler, 32, of Aurora, formerly of Cassville, is charged with the Class C felony, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000 and a minimum of five years probation.

According to the indictment, beginning on an unknown date as early as July 1, 2023, and through May 14, 2024, Koehler allegedly possessed at least one matter containing a visual depiction involving a minor under the age of 12, transported electronically, engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

According to a probable cause statement filed by James Smith, Cassville Police Department detective and task force officer with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and with the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, on March 18, 2024, Barry County Sheriff’s Office Det. Abby Parsons advised Koehler was engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor.

A witness told Parsons sexually explicit photos of Koehler and the minor were located at the minor’s home, and the minor also claimed to have videos of Koehler on a cell phone.

On May 14, data from Koehler’s Snapchat account was provided due to a search warrant. Smith’s examination of the data allegedly revealed three images from July and August 2023 depicting nudity and a stimulation device pressed against the victim, all of which involved another minor under the age of 10.

Blankets found in Koehler’s home, allegedly located during a Sheriff’s Office search, matched those depicted in the images.

Koehler was indicted on June 26, and an accelerated jury trial has been scheduled for Aug. 12 at 9 a.m. in Courtroom 2 in Springfield, District Judge Brian Wimes presiding.

Koehler was charged with three felonies in Barry County court. One charge, possession of child pornography, has been dropped, superseded by the new federal case. Koehler is still charged in Barry County with first-degree child molestation and incest. No hearing is scheduled in the case currently.

Koehler met a $10,000 surety bond in Barry County on June 20, stipulations of which included no contact with the victims or any children under 17 years of age, as well as electronic monitoring.

Koehler was arrested by U.S. Marshals on June 24 and transported to the Green County jail, where she is currently being held on no bond.

Koehler is a former employee of the Cassville school district. Her resignation from middle school special education aide, effective March 25 after her last day worked was March 21, was accepted at the April 11 school board meeting.