Former North County Police Cooperative officer Marcellis Blackwell has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing 18 men while carrying out his duties.
Blackwell, 36, of St. Louis, entered his guilty plea in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis. He admitted to 18 counts of deprivation of rights under color of law, involving the victims’ right to bodily integrity.
According to his plea agreement, Blackwell committed the offenses between November 8, 2022, and June 5, 2023, while serving as a police officer with the North County Police Cooperative.
The victims encountered Blackwell during traffic stops or arrests. Prosecutors said he abused his position of authority to target the men after detaining them.
In one incident, Blackwell detained two men following a traffic accident. He sexually assaulted one of them inside his police vehicle before taking the other to a remote location.
Authorities said 16 of the 18 victims were handcuffed when the abuse occurred. Blackwell also took 15 victims to isolated locations, including a high school and the parking lot behind his police department.
According to court documents, Blackwell often switched off his body-worn camera during the encounters. He also allegedly falsified police reports on 13 occasions by claiming that his camera had remained active throughout his interactions with the victims.
The investigation began on June 4, 2023, after one of the alleged victims contacted the North County Police Cooperative.
As additional victims came forward, the FBI took over the investigation.
Blackwell is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on November 24. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said it will seek a 30-year prison sentence.
The case has drawn attention to the abuse of authority and the safeguards needed to protect people while in police custody.
