ST. LOUIS, MO. -- The United States Attorney’s office announced Thursday that Ryan S. Slaughter pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents during an investigation into a sexual encounter which occurred while he was on duty as a police officer in La Plata.

According to court documents, and statements made in court, during the early morning hours of March 16, 2008, Slaughter, a uniformed La Plata, Missouri Police Officer arrested a young woman, MR for suspected drunk driving.  Later that morning, while Slaughter was still on duty, he drove MR to the La Plata, Missouri Police Department in his department squad car and had sexual relations in the police department offices.  When interviewed by a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation later on March 16, 2008, Slaughter denied that he was on duty during this incident and falsely claimed that he had released MR from custody prior to the sexual encounter.

Slaughter, 34, La Plata, Mo., pleaded guilty to one felony count of making a false statement before United States District Judge Jean C. Hamilton.  He now faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or fines up to $250,000 when he is sentenced on January 21, 2011.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Macon County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.  Assistant United States Attorney Hal Goldsmith is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.