A former Indiana police officer now faces life in prison after a federal jury found he used the badge to kidnap and sexually assault a 14-year-old runaway while on duty.[1][3]
Story Snapshot
- A federal jury convicted former Kokomo officer Sinmi Asomuyide of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl while on duty, including kidnapping and abusive sexual contact of a child.[1][3]
- Jurors found he violated the girl’s constitutional rights under color of law and then tried to cover his tracks by lying to investigators and deleting a messaging application.[1]
- The conviction underscores how badly a weaponized justice system or failed local oversight can betray families who trust police to protect their children.[1][3]
- The case highlights both the need for tough punishment of predators and strong, transparent safeguards so citizens can hold local departments accountable.[1][3]
Federal Jury Finds Former Officer Abused Badge To Prey On Runaway Teen
According to the United States Department of Justice, a federal jury in the Southern District of Indiana convicted former Kokomo Police Department officer Sinmi Asomuyide, age thirty-three, after a five-day trial in Indianapolis.[1][3] Jurors found that while on duty he sexually assaulted a fourteen-year-old girl who had run away from home, turning what should have been a rescue into a crime scene.[1][3] The jury concluded that he acted under color of law, meaning he used government authority to carry out the assault.[1]
The jury also determined that Asomuyide’s conduct went beyond misconduct into outright kidnapping and abusive sexual contact of a child under sixteen.[1] That finding means jurors were convinced he unlawfully restrained the girl and used his control over her movements to facilitate the assault.[1] Local reporting describes the incident as an on-duty sexual assault, emphasizing that this did not happen off the clock or in some private setting, but while he wore the uniform taxpayers fund and the badge citizens are supposed to trust.[3]
Cover-Up Allegations: Lies To State Police And Deleted Messages
Federal prosecutors told jurors that Asomuyide did not just assault the runaway teen; he then tried to bury the evidence.[1] The Department of Justice reports that jurors found him guilty of lying to the Indiana State Police by denying any sexual contact with the victim and by lying about other corroborating evidence.[1] Such false statements are serious because state investigators rely on truthful cooperation from officers when they evaluate misconduct cases and determine whether criminal charges are warranted.[1]
Jurors further concluded that Asomuyide deleted a messaging application he had used to communicate with the minor before the assault, again as part of an effort to cover up what he had done.[1] Destroying or concealing digital records undermines due process and makes it far harder for parents, courts, and communities to know the full truth.[1] Prosecutors connected this deletion to a broader obstruction narrative, portraying it as deliberate destruction of potential evidence rather than routine phone cleanup or a technical glitch.[1]
What This Means For Families, Local Control, And Trust In Law Enforcement
The Department of Justice notes that the core civil-rights charge involved willfully depriving the victim of her constitutional rights through sexual assault under color of law.[1] When an officer misuses official authority this way, the victim is not just a private target; the entire community’s trust in government takes a hit.[1] Parents who expect an officer to bring a runaway child home safely instead see a nightmare scenario in which the very person sent to help becomes the threat.[1][3]
Kokomo police officer has been found guilty of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 14-year-old while he was on duty and trying to cover up the assault. pic.twitter.com/ja5ag4nayC
— Chimp (@CHIMPUSX) June 6, 2026
Available public records show the government’s account of the verdict and local media summaries but do not include the full indictment, jury instructions, or trial transcript, limiting outside review of each element of the charges.[1][3] However, nothing in the record reflects any post-trial defense filing that overturns or contradicts the jury’s findings.[1][3] Asomuyide now faces a possible sentence of up to life in federal prison, signaling that, at least in this case, the system is prepared to punish an abuse of power against a child with maximum seriousness.[1]
Sources:
[1] Web – Former Indiana cop found guilty of sexually assaulting 14-year-old …
[3] YouTube – Former Kokomo police officer facing federal charges for …
