Local man charged with enticement of a child in St. Charles County

A St. Francois County man has been charged with sex-related crimes in St. Charles County.

Bobbie O. Steel, Jr., 55, has been charged with felony enticement of a child (actor 21 years of age or older and child under age 15) and misdemeanor furnishing of pornographic material to a minor. 

According to the probable cause statement written by the St. Charles County Cyber Crimes Task Force, on Sept. 10, 2018, a personal ad was observed on the website Doublist.com with the heading of “Do you have ‘daddy’ issues? Want to explore them?”

The body of the ad, according to the report, stated, “Are you a younger woman that (gets aroused) when you are around an older man? Want to see what I can do for you?”

The cyber-crimes investigator, using a fictitious persona, responded to the ad asking if he would be interested in someone younger.

According to the report, Steel responded by asking how much younger.

The response, per the report, came from an email address with a name of Ben Shaven. The investigator informed Steel that she was a 14 year old from O’Fallon.

According to the report, the conversation continued and ended when Steel inquired if the “14 year old girl had ever had sex?”

On Sept. 13, the report states that an image was received of a blue Hyundai which Ben Shaven stated he had just purchased, and on Sept. 18 a picture was emailed of Ben Shaven claiming that it was a photograph of himself. In the corner of the image was a map and on the map was a label of Hammert’s Iron Works.

The report states on Oct. 10 that the investigator drove to Hammert’s Iron Works and located a blue Hyundai with a Missouri temporary tag. A search of the tag number revealed the vehicle belonged to Steel. On viewing the DOR photograph of Steel, the investigator matched his photo to the photo of Ben Shaven that had been received through the personal site.

The report indicates that Steel engaged the investigator in several sexual conversations on Dec. 12 after three months of consistent conversation with Steel.

That same day at 2:54 p.m., Steel asked the “girl” to tell him when she left school because he had pictures to send her. When advised that she was away from school, Steel sent seven pornographic images.

At that time, according to the report, Steel sent two images of what he alleged to be his private parts. He reportedly told the girl that the pictures of sexual acts were “what he wanted to do to her.”

The report states on March 18 at 11:15 a.m., Steel advised the “girl” that if it were warmer he would take her to the park and engage in a sexual act with her. 

Then on March 25, Steel reportedly asked the “girl” to meet and told her he was available on Tuesday or Wednesday, whichever was best for her.

The report shows on March 27, the meeting was set for 3 p.m. Prior to the meeting, Steel told the “girl” all of the things he was going to do to her. The meeting was arranged at an O’Fallon gas station.

According to the report, at 3 p.m. on March 27, Steel arrived at the gas station driving the 2016 Hyundai that had been previously identified.

Upon his arrival, Steel was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Charles Police Department. The vehicle was searched and a sexual device that had previously been discussed was discovered.

During the interview, Steel denied ever wanting to engage in sexual intercourse with the “girl.” When asked if the opportunity had presented itself that day, would he have done anything with the “girl” and his response was, “I honestly don’t know. I can’t answer that question.”

Steel was asked how far he would have gone if he had been allowed and he responded, “I honestly don’t know.”

He is currently being held at the St. Charles County Jail on a $50,000 cash only bond.

Steel

Matt McFarland is a reporter for the Daily Journal. He can be reached at 573-518-3616, or at mmcfarland@dailyjournalonline.com.