Former Brookline Chief McConnell sentenced after renewed trial

Former Brookline fire chief Larry McConnell has been sentenced on counts of sodomy and rape from charges stemming from 2016. McConnell has been sentenced to five years for each of his three counts of sodomy in the second degree and five years for his single count of rape in the second degree. 

This is the second time McConnell has been sentenced on these charges as his charges were vacated by the Missouri Court of Appeals in 2024.

McConnell’s charges come from incidents beginning in 2016 in which he had sex with a female fire department volunteer cadet while his wife was injured. McConnell would eventually bring the victim on to work on his farm. Court documents state that the abuse began with McConnell holding hands with the victim but would then escalate into a back massage and other physical interactions. 

The victim said that she felt obligated to comply because of McConnell’s position and her desire to become a firefighter. The rape is stated to have taken place after the victim turned 17 but the statutory sodomy charges come from before that. 

McConnell’s first trial with these charges resulted in served prison time, but in 2024, he was released after the Missouri Court of Appeals stated that McConnell’s wife’s medical records should have been brought forward to aid in his defense. They also stated that he had ineffective counsel. 

“The motion court’s findings that McConnell’s trial counsel did not provide effective assistance of counsel and that no prejudice resulted are clearly erroneous. The order denying McConnell’s Rule 29.15 motion for post conviction relief is reversed; McConnell’s conviction and sentence… are vacated,”

This time, however after receiving a new case, McConnell was convicted on each of the above mentioned charges. He received a total sentence of 20 years in prison.