RAYMORE BUSINESS OWNER CHARGED WITH MOLESTATION

By Allen Edmonds

allen@northcassherald.com

HARRISONVILLE – A 73-year-old retired Raymore business owner is being held on $250,000 bond following his arrest on two counts of child molestation.

Paul Joseph Dusselier

Paul Joseph Dusselier, who operated the Paul Dusselier Basement Co. from 1978 until his retirement in 2019. is accused of “placing the confidential victim’s hand on the defendant’s genitals” for the purpose of “arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of the defendant” on or about Oct. 2 of this year. The victim, according to court documents, is under the age of 12.

The second charge accuses Dusselier of the same offense on either Oct. 2 or Oct. 3 of this year.

Dusselier was arrested on Oct. 25 at the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, where he was held on no bond until Tuesday of this week, when Associate Circuit Judge Jason Howell set bond at $250,000, with a 10 percent cash option in response to a plea from defense attorney P.J. O’Connor of Kansas City.

In his motion for a $200,000 bond, O’Connor cited Dusselier’s clean criminal background, his 52-year marriage and three adult children, noting he is a life-long resident of the area having lived in the same home in Raymore since 1983.

O’Connor said Dusselier suffers from numerous health issues, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, enlarged prostate, erectile dysfunction and acid reflux “and takes numerous medications daily for these health issues.”

He went on to say that his client agreed to a GPS total lockdown house arrest “at the family’s place at Climax Springs to avoid any contact with his (victim) and witness.”

He said Dusselier agreed to no contact with anyone under the age of 17, with any victim or witnesses with the exception of his wife.

Howell agreed to set bond at $250,000, 10 percent cash allowed, with GPS installed prior to release at the expense of the Defendant with limited access to (the residence in) Climax Springs, his attorney’s office and the Cass County Court, no contact with confidential victim, the victim’s parents, no contact with any person under 17 years of age, no direct contact with his spouse except through counsel for legal fees and bond. He was also ordered to not possess firearms, and to appear in court when ordered.

His next appearance is set for 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10.

Dusselier was in the news two years ago in connection with the failed landfill project north of Raymore. At that time, Mayor Kris Turnbow had been in contact with him regarding property he owned on Horridge Road in Kansas City, which was included in preliminary plans for the landfill.

According to Public Radio KCUR, Turnbow contacted Dusselier saying he had received a call from a neighboring landowner considering the proposal, and Dusselier told him he needed to stop discussing the landfill.

“Kris, I need to let you know that I have signed a nondisclosure agreement and really can’t discuss any of this with anyone,” Dusselier said to Turnbow in a text obtained by KCUR through a Sunshine Law request.

Turnbow then asked if Dusselier’s non-disclosure agreement restricted him from entertaining other offers. Dusselier said he did not know and would ask, according to KCUR. Turnbow responded by saying investors may be willing to block the landfill project. Then communication ceased.

Eventually, the City of Raymore paid a settlement of $3 million to Aden and Jennifer Monheiser, developers of the proposed landfill, to drop their plans.