By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A former officer of the local plumbers and pipefitters union has been charged with child molestation, accused both of videoing the victim and physically assaulting her.
Former Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 45 Business Manager, Dereck Heineman of St. Joseph, was arraigned Tuesday morning in Buchanan County Associate Circuit Court with the class B felony of child molestation in the first degree. Bond has been denied.
In the probable cause statement, a St. Joseph police detective reports nude photos of the victim were found on Heineman’s phone. Heineman, who is 43, is alleged to have installed cameras in the bedroom and the bathroom of the victim, observing the victim for four years, from the time the victim was eight until the age of 12. The victim told police Heineman would come into her room and sexually assault her.
An officer with Local 45 confirmed that Heineman is no longer with the union.
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