A Northeast Fire Protection District firefighter is being held without bond in St. Louis after prosecutors charged him in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a young child several years ago.
Authorities say 36-year-old Chaz Brewer faces two counts of statutory sodomy involving a child under 12. The case has renewed scrutiny on how officials respond when abuse allegations involve someone living inside the home.
According to First Alert 4, court records show the child first told a family member in 2021 that Brewer had touched her inappropriately. The station reports that the child repeated the allegation in a later interview, and that she told investigators Brewer had lived with her mother for a period of time and threatened to hit her if she disclosed what happened.
Brewer, in a Mirandized interview, acknowledged that he had lived in the household, according to the same report. Prosecutors have charged him with two counts of statutory sodomy against a child less than 12.
Listed With Northeast Fire District
The Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District's staff gallery lists "Pvt. Chaz Brewer" on its roster, confirming his role with the agency. That listing appears on the district's Northeast Ambulance and Fire Protection District website.
What The Charge Means Under Missouri Law
Missouri law treats statutory sodomy involving young children as a serious felony. The state code defines first-degree statutory sodomy to include deviate sexual intercourse with someone under 14, with harsher penalties when the victim is younger than 12. The Missouri Revisor of Statutes notes that an offense involving a child under 12 carries an authorized term of imprisonment of life or not less than ten years. A conviction also brings long-term registration and other post-conviction obligations under state law.
Brewer remains in custody without bond as the case moves through St. Louis courts, according to First Alert 4. Prosecutors are expected to move the case forward in court proceedings such as arraignment, while investigators and the Children's Division continue to review the interviews cited in the records. Authorities are asking anyone with additional information to contact law enforcement as the investigation continues.
