Game store owner charged with child molestation

By Ann Rubin

KSDK -- Police have charged a south St. Louis County business owner with child molestation. The suspect ran a game store on Lemay Ferry Road and that's where the incident allegedly occurred.

Gamestation Sector 19 seemed to be the perfect hangout. Kids would pay to play, like an old-fashioned arcade. But police believe there may have been something else going on inside.

A 12-year-old boy has made the allegations against owner Leland Beasley. To protect him, NewsChannel 5 has not identified the boy's parents. They said he used to love the place.

"And then all of a sudden it just stopped. He didn't want to go there anymore and that's when we knew there was a problem," the boy's father said.

His mother added, "I had a heart to heart talk with my son and he broke down and he told me it happened."

St. Louis County authorities believe Beasley inappropriately touched the boy over his clothes and they're already interviewing what they believe to be a second victim. Police think he used the store to lure the kids.

"So he has the perfect place to prey on these kids basically. So we anticipate more victims to come forward," said Officer Tracy Panus, St. Louis County Police spokesperson.

Zeus Radcliff said his son used to go to Gamestation Sector 19, but later told him he felt uncomfortable.

"He'd pack the place with sleepovers," Radcliff said. "And it's just not right and I thought it was creepy from the word go."

And while some parents have expressed concerns, others were quick to jump to Beasley's defense.

"My son's upset because he's like, 'it's not true.' So I don't believe it," said Mary Kopsic.

Another parent, Tom Erker said, "I don't believe it for a second. I've been around him for months and months, well, it's years now, and he's never been anything but a perfect gentleman toward everybody."

The 12-year-old's parents said they used to believe that too. Now, they're hoping victims will come forward.

"Go to your teachers, go to the police officer at school. Report it," said the boy's father. "(Beasley) just needs to be stopped from doing it to anybody else."

If you have any information on this case, you can contact Crimestoppers at 866-371-TIPS or the St. Louis County Police Department's Child Abuse unit at 314-615-5400.

Leland Beasley is being held on $50,000 bond.