Attorney General's News Release

May 19, 2000

Area lawyer arrested, charged with sexual crimes involving minors in Perry, Ste. Genevieve counties

Perryville, Mo. — An area attorney was arrested today and charged in Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties with a total of five felony and two misdemeanor charges that allegedly involved sexual crimes against minor boys.

The Missouri Attorney General's Office filed the charges against Alan D. Picou (DOB - 9/23/64), who lives on Kaskaskia Island, Ill., but has a St. Marys, Mo. address, as well as an apartment in Perryville. The Attorney General's Office was appointed to handle the cases because of conflicts on the part of the prosecuting attorneys in both counties.

Picou is charged in Perry County with one felony count of statutory sodomy in the first degree; one felony count of attempted statutory sodomy in the first degree; three felony counts of sexual misconduct involving a child by indecent exposure; and one misdemeanor count of invasion of privacy.

He is charged in Ste. Genevieve County with one misdemeanor count of sexual misconduct in the first degree. Each of the counts allege that the incidents involved juvenile boys.

The charges of statutory sodomy and attempted statutory sodomy are each punishable by a prison term of five years to life; the three charges of sexual misconduct involving a child by indecent exposure are each punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine; the invasion of privacy and the sexual misconduct in the first degree are each class A misdemeanors, punishable by up to year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The charges against Picou are merely accusations; as in all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818