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TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho police officer has been accused of sexually abusing two girls within the last 11 years, officials said.
Twin Fall Police Officer William Jansen, 33, was charged with four felony counts of lewd conduct with a minor under 16 and one misdemeanor count of disseminating material harmful to a minor on Monday, The Times-News reported (http://bit.ly/2oUOn2j). The alleged crimes occurred before Jansen was a police officer, investigators said.
A teenage girl told investigators two weeks ago that Jansen sexually abused her between 2008 and 2009 while she was 7 and 9 years old. The girl claims Jansen also abused two other girls.
"Based on my training and experience and the evidence gathered in this investigation, I believe more victims will be uncovered through the course of this investigation and Jansen remains a threat to society and any current/future victims," Detective Travis DeBie wrote. "It took these victims many years to come forward. I believe we will uncover many more."
Sheriff's detectives said Jansen denied the accusations on Friday. His attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Jansen was a sergeant in the Idaho Army National Guard before he joined the police force in 2013.
Twin Fall city spokesman Joshua Palmer said Jansen was placed on administrative leave March 31 and switched to unpaid leave when he received his charges.
"As soon as we found out about the allegations, we forwarded to the sheriff's office for investigation," Palmer said. "Then they conducted their investigation."
Twin Fall County Prosecutor Grant Loebs said he is looking for an outside prosecutor to handle the case "because of the fact the accused person is a local police officer."
Jansen's preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 21.
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Information from: The Times-News, http://www.magicvalley.com
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