Austin Barelle Charged With Sex Crimes

A Casper Man is accused of having sexual encounters with a number of underage girls.

Nineteen year old Austin Barelle has been charged with five counts of second degree sexual abuse of a minor, and five counts of third degree sexual abuse of a minor.

Investigators with the Casper Police Department say in February, a High School supervisor was reviewing the contents of an IPad and observed sexually explicit messages with various men ranging from teenage to adult in years, with Barelle being one of them.

Police later talked to several underaged females who said they had been in a sexual relationship with Barelle, between November 2015 and January 2016.

When detectives contacted Barelle about the accusations, he advised he knew why they were calling, declined to appear for an interview and stated he was going to seek legal counsel.

Barelle is awaiting trial on $25,000 bond, and could face up to 20 years in prison on each second degree sexual abuse of a minor charge, and up to 15 years in prison on each third degree sexual abuse of a minor charge, if convicted.