Belton officer charged with raping woman with deadly weapon in 2017 incident

BELTON, Mo. (KCTV) - A Belton Police officer faces life in prison for allegedly raping a woman while threatening her with a deadly weapon in 2017.

Collin K. Goodsell, 28, of Peculiar, was arrested on Thursday, Feb. 12, and remains in the Pettis County Jail without bond, the Missouri State Highway Patrol says.

State law dictates that Goodsell faces 15 years to life in prison if convicted.

Officer on administrative leave

The City of Belton announced on Friday that Goodsell had been placed on administrative leave. Officials say the alleged crime happened before the Belton Police Department employed him.

“The safety of our community and upholding the integrity of the Belton Police Department and our entire organization remains our top priority,” a City spokesperson said.

Details of the alleged crime

Court documents filed in Pettis County reveal that Goodsell is accused of raping a woman sometime in 2017.

According to the criminal complaint, he displayed a deadly weapon in a threatening manner during the assault.

The charge is classified as an aggravated sexual offense. If convicted, Goodsell must serve at least 85% of his sentence without the possibility of probation or parole. Any eventual parole would include lifetime supervision.

A conviction also requires mandatory registration on both the Missouri and federal sex offender registries.

Investigation and arrest

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says it was requested to investigate the allegations involving a Belton Police Department employee in December.

After establishing probable cause, Troopers say they arrested Goodsell in Lee’s Summit before he was taken to the Pettis County Jail.

Prosecutors note that Goodsell was formally charged on Friday, Feb. 13, with rape in the first degree.

Previous law enforcement positions

According to MSHP, Goodsell has held several law enforcement positions in Cass and Livingston Counties before his employment in Belton.

Investigators are asking anyone with information about this or similar incidents involving Goodsell to contact Corporal Travis Goolsby at troop A Headquarters, 816-622-0800.

“Mr. Goodsell is innocent until proven guilty. Court documents, allegations and the filing of a complaint are not evidence and should not be treated as such,” Goodsell’s lawyer Matthew Brown said. “Any attempt to prejudice the public or court against our client will not be tolerated. We caution everyone from a quick rush to judgment. Mr. Goodsell is entitled to a fair judicial process. We will continue to vigorously defend Mr. Goodsell and look forward to his day in court.”

Resources

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or visit Rainn.org for confidential support.