A Springfield man is in the Texas County Jail on $750,000 bond and faces felony sex charges after allegedly engaging in inappropriate relations with a minor-aged girl.
Thomas D. Bialas, 65, of 1218 Colgate, Springfield, is charged with first degree sodomy or attempted sodomy – victim less than 12 years old (an unclassified felony) and second-degree child molestation – child less than 12 years old (a class B felony). (Court records have been updated to reflect a Springfield address for the suspect).
According to a probable cause statement written by a Cabool Police Department officer, the girl’s mother provided information indicating the illegal actions had taken place. The girl was later examined at the Child Advocacy Center in West Plains and questioned by a Texas County Children’s Division investigator.
According to the officer’s report, Springfield police contacted the Cabool Police Department after Bialas called 911 and said he wanted to turn himself in for “molesting a 10-year-old in Cabool.”
Bialas’ criminal history includes a conviction for attempted sexual assault of a child in Lincoln, Neb., in 1996, authorities said.