A 56-year-old Emporia man has been charged with multiple counts of sex offenses against children under 14 years of age.
Max W. Engle was charged in a complaint filed Sept. 8 in Lyon County District Court by Assistant Lyon County Attorney Amy Aranda.
The incidents are alleged to have taken place over a two-year period between Sept. 1, 2007 and Sept. 4, 2009.
He is charged with four counts of aggravated indecent liberties and one count of aggravated criminal sodomy, all against a limited number of children of elementary or preschool age.
In an affidavit filed by Sheriff’s Deputy Jarrod Fell, Fell said Engle told him that he had met the children while recruiting youths for his church.
“Mr. Engle explained to the (deputy) how he targeted young troubled children,” Fell wrote in the affidavit, “... (and) that in the two years he had spent a lot of time with the family.”
In all four of the aggravated indecent liberties charges, Engle allegedly did “unlawfully, knowingly and feloniously submit to the lewd fondling or touching of the defendant’s person ... with the intent to arouse or to satisfy the sexual desires of the victim, the defendant, or both.”
The aggravated criminal sodomy charge alleges that Engle engaged in oral sodomy with a child.
The incidents took place in vehicles in which Engle and the children were riding, at his home and in the shower at his home.
All of the aggravated indecent-liberties charges are off-grid Person Felonies. The aggravated criminal sodomy is a Severity Level 1, Person Felony, according to the complaint.
AverageCitizen2 (anonymous) says...
Forget Redeker...hang this guy! How horrible! Those poor kids. I can't imagine what they are going through.
September 15, 2009 at 11:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tosie (anonymous) says...
So I am curious - anyone know what church this guy was affiliated with?
September 15, 2009 at 11:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sun (anonymous) says...
Flint Hills Christian Church on at 1836 East US Hwy 50.
September 15, 2009 at 12:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
me (anonymous) says...
my heart go out to the kids and their family iam with you if found guilty hang him the kids have a long road ahead of them but there is help for them no help for a person who can do this
September 15, 2009 at 1:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nks (anonymous) says...
An eye for an eye. Send this "tough guy" to San Quentin and strap him down face first to a cot in the laundry room and dont check on him for a week. See how he likes what he was dishing out.
September 15, 2009 at 7:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mychildren3 (anonymous) says...
I am completely disgusted by this man and feel so bad for the children and family that have had to be subjected to his sick mind! Offenders like this deserve to be put away for LIFE!! Keep these people off the streets away from our children!
September 16, 2009 at 9:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jlhart22 (anonymous) says...
I wonder why it's important what church he came from. There are people like this everywhere. I will be honest in saying I attend that church. No one knew this was going on and certainly had any of us known this we would have never had him taking children to church. It is very sad, but I don't think that what church he went to should have anything to do with it.
September 16, 2009 at 9:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
jlhart, I think maybe they were concerned if their children or those they knew were exposed to this person at church. I agree, people like that lurk everywhere. Look at the BTK killer, he was active in church AND Boy Scouts. You just never know what's going on in people's heads. All you can do is tell your kids that no one should touch their privates and they shouldn't be asked to touch someone else's privates. And to tell the parents if someone asks them to do something strange like shower with them etc. I'll be praying for the children involved and the whole congregation. What a blow to a church family to have a member turn out to be sick and no one knew so they could help him and protect the children.
September 16, 2009 at 9:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sun (anonymous) says...
Let's remember, this is the USA, he is charged, but innocent until proven guilty. Until this is handled in a court of law with all of the evidence we really don't know what happened.
I think everyone involved needs our prayers.
September 16, 2009 at 12:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AverageCitizen2 (anonymous) says...
The way the article reads, it sounds as though Mr. Engle has admitted to his guilt to Deputy Fell; however, I could be misinterpreting what I am reading.
September 16, 2009 at 12:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
Citizen, that is how I interpreted the article, too. It makes so sad to see these things happen. They happened when I was a kid but it wasn't as well publicized.
September 16, 2009 at 12:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hartford (anonymous) says...
Forget Redecker? Do you mean in the news? He'll still have his time in court. What he did or didn't do may not be as bad as what this guy did....but if he is guilty.......then he should be punished just the same.
September 16, 2009 at 1:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AverageCitizen2 (anonymous) says...
And Redeker was prosecuted and punished. I am saying that Mr. Engle is a true pedophile and predator, if I am interpreting the article correctly. Preschool and grade school age children! They don’t flirt! High school age girls do flirt…a lot, too bad Redeker didn’t have enough sense not to reciprocate. It is his responsibility as an adult to do stop the behavior and not encourage it.
September 16, 2009 at 1:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tell (anonymous) says...
I see your still blaming the children Average those flirty ol' high school girls.
September 16, 2009 at 2:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
me (anonymous) says...
sounds as though he admitted to it so i hope he gets life and everyday of that life sentence he gets the same kind of abuse he gave these kids lock him up in general public no protective custody for him no freedom for him ever!!!!!!!! redeker should of got time 16 will get you 20 doesnt mean probation even though he got caught before anything physical happened thankgoodness it still should tell us he has issues ordering counciling could of been helpful to him and to the next young girl that gives him attention.
September 16, 2009 at 2:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
I'll go one further, I’ll blame their parents for not teaching them some modesty, I was in high school in the 90's and as lenient as I am it is hard for to me fathom the how and why some parents let their daughters act and dress as they do. It's like waving a crack pipe in front of a crack addict, to be blunt..
September 16, 2009 at 2:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AverageCitizen2 (anonymous) says...
I guess to an extent, I am. Yes.
September 16, 2009 at 2:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
me (anonymous) says...
I heard almost the same excuse from a sicko that said she was flirting with me we are in love her pink outfit was a turn on the guy was 19 the girl was..5.he did 20 yrs in prison justice worked in that case girls and boys should dress with modesty but if your not sick you are not looking at the young ones like a crack addict looks at a crack pipe!!!!! you are looking at them as children DO NOT TOUCH OR ATTEMPT TO TOUCH!!!!!!!!!!
September 16, 2009 at 3:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tell (anonymous) says...
yep goodolboy when the supermarket puts those fresh red apples out in front its ok to steel them, it the markets fault for putting them there. Yep blame the parents blame the children maybe we should blame the freaks who commit these sick crimes. be an adult be responsible for your actions.Maybe we all should become Muslims and make all women cover their entire body and face because sick freaks can't control themselves.
September 16, 2009 at 3:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AverageCitizen2 (anonymous) says...
My friend told me a story once about stalking her teacher that lived on out on John Deere Road when she was younger. Once she got the idea in her head, that poor guy didn't stand a chance. I guess that story affected my judgment. Sorry. My mistake.
September 16, 2009 at 3:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
"yep goodolboy when the supermarket puts those fresh red apples out in front its ok to steel them, it the markets fault for putting them there. Yep blame the parents blame the children maybe we should blame the freaks who commit these sick crimes. be an adult be responsible for your actions.Maybe we all should become Muslims and make all women cover their entire body and face because sick freaks can't control themselves."
Uhhh, ok, my point totally flew over your head. RECAP, parents should share PART of the blame. They are the ones instilling values and morals into their children (or lack of). Sex offenders are a disgusting segment of human nature, but in that same token increasing the odds of being attacked or targeted is not exactly a good idea neither now is it? People wear seat beats to reduce the risk of injury, police officers often give out advice on how not to be targeted by criminals, and do you think it unwise to totally disregard these as well? It’s common sense, if your want to display your apples, you better be able to protect them or keep an eye on them.
September 16, 2009 at 3:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tell (anonymous) says...
I think most parents do a great job with their children but they at some point can't spend 24 7 with their kid they have to have some trust in the human race. Maybe the parents of these freaks should take part of the blame for raising monsters. And nothing you have ever said has gone much above my knees. You must not have kids.
September 16, 2009 at 7:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AverageCitizen2 (anonymous) says...
And you sound like one of those parents whose children have never done any wrong...
September 16, 2009 at 8 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Tell (anonymous) says...
No just a victim of one of those monsters and it wasn't my parents fault.
September 16, 2009 at 8:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
me (anonymous) says...
iam a mother whose daughter was a victim of a sicko it was 20yrs ago and i can tell you what she was wearing pink overalls and pigtails she was 5 if she would of been 16 in a bikini it still dont give anyone the right to touch or attempt to touch they are children till 18.dont blame the parents blame the sickos and lockem up for life its the only way the kids are safe.and yes iam a parent that can say my child did nothing wrong when this happenrd
September 16, 2009 at 11:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
me (anonymous) says...
oh a detail i forgot to put in the sicko that did this to my child had priors for same thing but was a juvenile with clean record so was on probation please no more second and third chances for the sick monsters they cant or wont change he did 20 yrs and from what i hear didnt change anything except his address and his victim
September 17, 2009 at 8:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
me (anonymous) says...
tell it wasnt your fault or your parents fault my heart goes out to all the victims in this case and all cases like it. the families and the victims NEVER fully recover i never hated anyone until this happened in my family now i have lots of hate inside me for anyone that is sick enough to do this to any child of any age
September 17, 2009 at 9:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CRAZE (anonymous) says...
These children were elementary and preschool age. This is not the parents fault! This is Mr. engle's fault! These children thought they were being taken to a safe place=church. Instead this man ruined these little childrens trust in anyone. This person should of never been allowed to take these children anywhere alone. Why was there not a female on the bus at all times also? I hope this person gets what is coming to him in prison! Men are not nice to child molesters in prison! Mr. Engle you will get what is coming to you 10 times over. If I were a parent of one of those children you would be locked away for life.How disgusting to call yourself a christian!
September 17, 2009 at 9:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
I think that there are some people on here that need to take a look at a t.v. program called, I believe, " Toddlers in Tiaras" and see just how obsessed some parents are in making their " children " appear and act much older than they really are and after watching it see if you have the same attitude about some parents and their children .
I have seen many young children, epecially girls, in public that look, dress and act much older than they really are .
There is plenty of blame to go around !
September 17, 2009 at 9:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
me (anonymous) says...
i agree with craze but unfortunatly as a parent to a victim we have NO say how long they will be locked up, if i did the sicko that messed with my child would of been locked up for life in general population without parole he did 20yrs in protective custody tax payers paid to keep him safe.
September 17, 2009 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
me (anonymous) says...
methusia you think these children going to church were dressed like the kids on that show ? what? my daughter was in overalls and a long sleeve shirt . when this happened to her NO ONE should be turned on by a child no matter how they act or dress unless they are SICK the blame needs to go to the sick people that do this and the people that make excuses for their acts!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 17, 2009 at 9:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
me
All I am saying is, that some parents need to accept responsibility for what their children do, how they dress and where and what they are doing, by simply asking questions of their children and their childrens friends and not requiring their children to grow up faster than they need to. In other words, let them be a child and grow up in their own time, at their own pace and protect them as best you can, they will be adults soon enough and then you will wish they were a child again !
me, I sympathize with your situation and do hope this monster gets what he justly deserves, I appologize, if you took my comment as being directed at anyone whos child was harmed by this monster, most likely for life.
But making a blanket statement that all children and their parents are blameless is just not the case, in the real world.
Because I think that even you know that children sometimes mimmick their parents and what they see adults say and do and that children can be more trusting of adults than they really should be in todays world !
I have lived long, perhaps too long, have seen and witnessed much, even in my own family, both good and bad .
Again I appologize if I offended you or your child, it was not my intention to do so !
September 17, 2009 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
The scariest thing is that of the rather small number of people on this forum, 2 are or have known victims of child molestation. I think the problem is wider spread than we realize. As the parent of a small child, it scares the heck out of me. This pervert lived about 5 miles down the road from my house. I don't think I'll ever be able to let my little boy be alone with any adult for a long time.
September 17, 2009 at 10:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
me (anonymous) says...
i just know what these kids and family are going though and will go though and the guy that did this will NOT get what he deserves my child lost her childhood i lost my baby she never was the same bubbly little girl 20 years later the anger is still there everytime i hear these stories it all comes back! i pray for the parents and the children its just the begining of a life long nightmare GOD bless our babies and look out for them.
September 17, 2009 at 10:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
me (anonymous) says...
family was the only one i trusted and it ruined a big part of my kids childhood my daughter trusted no one and is a adult now and still trust no one there is no answer except to lock these monsters up for life dont give them a chance to do it again the first time is one time to many.
September 17, 2009 at 10:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
me (anonymous) says...
the saddest part of my story that i havent shared is my daughter was not his first victim and she was not his last 1st time probation 2nd time 20 yrs prison 3rd time mental hospital there will be more vitims when hes out again why not let these guys rot in prison in general population the first time? so we are know its their last time.
September 17, 2009 at 11:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
May I point out that the church was only mentioned by the man himself, as I read it, as a pretense. It says these things took place at his home and never mentions the church, "bus" or whatever as involved.
When I used to work on a bus route as a teenager in my home church, we introduced ourselves as being from the church, recruiting for the bus *ministry.* I think that's standard wording for legitimate bus ministry recruiters. That doesn't really match how he said it. Also, he said he spent a lot of time with the family.
There are an awful lot of assumptions being made here about the man, the kids, the parents and the church. There are a lot of personal feelings tied up in each of these assumptions, which taints the perception of what this article actually states.
September 17, 2009 at 11:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
me (anonymous) says...
what??
September 17, 2009 at 1:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
innocentchild (anonymous) says...
I am an innocent child...I am an adult now but as a child I was also molested, I call it raped. In no way was I to blame for what happened to me, no other child is to blame for it happening to them either. It doesn't matter how a child dresses or how they act, they are the victims. These sick perverted people always have a way of finding their victims. They never stop, they just move on to the next one. It doesn't matter what kind of family they come from, rich or poor. These children can have the best parents in the world and it can still happen to them. In my case, my mother knew and did nothing to stop it, so she is to blame just as much as he is. I see her as being the same sick perverted person as he is. The only way to totally protect your children, male or female is to not trust anyone, never leave them alone with anyone for even a moment. Anyone out there that thinks for one moment that a child could ever be blamed, must think in the same perverted mind as those offenders, the offenders always puts the blame on the child. Anyone out there thinking with the mind that a child can turn an adult ON needs to put himself/herself away now, so you won't have the opportunity to become an offender if you're not already! The destruction that occurs to the victims is unbelievable, we suffer a life long sentence, there is never a day that I don't remember the things that happened to me, don't tell me I need counseling, been there done that...........the pain will always be there. I hope and pray for all sex offenders to spend the rest of their lives behind bars so they can not create another victim.
September 17, 2009 at 4:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
AverageCitizen2 (anonymous) says...
I'm pretty sure that ALL the guys that thought Britney Spears was hot during her Oops I Did It Again video are NOT sex offenders.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am sorry about what happened to you. I wish your mother would have protected you. I wish she didn't have anything to protect you from. Unfortunately, our world isn't working that way...
September 17, 2009 at 4:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigro (anonymous) says...
I have so much to say about this and I have been holding back. Mr. Engle had been patrolling through Eastgate Plaza looking to prey on young troubled children living in low income housing this summer. This evil spirited man was very persistant and could not accept no for a answer. He came to my house at least four if not five times during the months of June and July asking about my children. He wanted to pick up my children and take them to church and do activities with them, but I told him no. Some thing that probably should be looked into is he told me that he worked as an over the road truck driver. So does this go further than just Lyon,Co.????
September 17, 2009 at 6:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
It would likely be prudent to contact the Sheriff's dept. (probably the deputy mentioned in the article) or the Co. Attorney with any information that may be helpful in the prosecution.
September 17, 2009 at 7:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
me (anonymous) says...
innocent child iam so sorry for what happened to you any mother that allows such things deserve more punishment a mother is suppose to protect their children at all cost i know counciling dont help it happened to my baby once i tried and did everything to try to ease her pain nothing worked she is an adult now and still carries so much pain in her heart just remember all people aint like your mother and this creep
September 17, 2009 at 7:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigro (anonymous) says...
To gain my families trust Max went as far as telling us that he does mission work with children down in Mexico each year. No matter what he said it didn't change my opinion, I thought he was creepy. Why would I send my children with a complete stranger? I am not in a situation that I cant get out of... He definitely preys on the weak and Vulnerable.
September 17, 2009 at 8:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigro (anonymous) says...
Just for the record if any one is following this story.... What I have posted are not rumors..... These encounters with Max happened....
September 17, 2009 at 8:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
Law enforcement needs to be following it more than us here......have you given them this info?
I realize it's therapeutic to get things off your chest, but this anonymous forum isn't exactly court admissible. Your statement, however, is!!
September 17, 2009 at 8:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
innocentchild (anonymous) says...
anyone that knows anything about him should be contacting the sheriff dept so they can do more investigating of this baby rapist, the more that will come forward the better the case will be for the ca's office. everyone needs to do their share, don't be ashamed if you fell prey to his creep as that happens alot. Any parents out there that did allow their children to go with him needs to be talking to their children but be careful not to put words in their mouths if you find out they have been victimized contact the sheriff dept or the ca's office immediately. I am sure he is a smooth talker, charmer, etc they use this to get what they want. We can't ask the Judges to put these creeps away if we don't come forward. it is terribly hard to do, I know! i wish i had, my biggest regret in life was never turning my rapist in......
September 17, 2009 at 9:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
me (anonymous) says...
innocentchild :you should not be living with regret your mother and this creep should be if she knew she should she the guilty one not you in any way!!!!
September 18, 2009 at 9:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
bigro,
You need to contact the police department and report this trolling that this Max character was doing this summer. You owe it to other people's children. This will help the county attorney set up his prosecution of this monster.
September 18, 2009 at 1:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
oh4theluvof (anonymous) says...
"Fowler said Engle's abuse of the youngster continued after he was charged..."
That's not true. He's been in jail ever since the day he was charged. Not sure what Fowler is talking about.
April 20, 2010 at 6:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UsayULoveGod (anonymous) says...
I worked with him at the Beef ! Wow crazy ! I seen around town always acting like he was helping familes. He is a very sick man !
April 20, 2010 at 11:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )