Second Man Arrested for Aiding Accused Rapist

AMENIA — Another man has been arrested in the case of the two girls who went missing in Amenia two and a half weeks ago. Joshua Bauer, 23, of Rhinebeck, was arrested last week and charged with criminal facilitation in the second degree, which is a class C felony.

The charge means it is believed that Bauer provided the means and opportunity for accused rapist Kevin Millsaps to carry out felonious acts, of which he is charged with three. According to Detective Kirk Imperati, public affairs officer for the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, Bauer was present when the crimes occurred in his Rhinebeck apartment.

Millsaps, 23, of Staatsburg, stands accused of predatory sexual assault against a child, a class A felony that could carry a life sentence; first-degree rape; and first-degree criminal sexual activity, both class B felonies, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in state prison.

The accusations against the two men are the result of a more than 24-hour nightmare in which the two girls, one 11 and one 12, went missing. They were last seen Jan. 7 at the Cumberland Farms in Amenia, where they reportedly got into a gold-colored car with a man later alleged to have been Millsaps.

From that point, the location of the two girls became a mystery. It wasn’t until the following day, Monday, that sheriff’s deputies found the two girls at Cousin’s Mini Market on Route 22 in Wassaic. One of the girl’s father explained that he got a call from his daughter that they were nearby and had "escaped" from Millsaps. However, the girl also said that Millsaps offered to drive the two youngsters home if they wanted him to. The father said he told his daughter to "absolutely not" get back in the car with Millsaps.

At the time of the phone call sheriff’s deputies were already at the girl’s parents’ home, so they immediately went to the market. When police arrived at the scene the suspect was gone. Some minutes afterward, Millsaps was stopped on the road, arrested without incident and taken into custody.

Although the names of the girls appeared in the media during the 24 hours they were missing, it is the policy of this newspaper not to identify minor victims.

It is now believed that during their time with Millsaps, the girls were taken to Bauer’s apartment for a couple of hours, where the sexual assault of both girls took place. Authorities are not saying if both girls were raped.

In addition to the second degree criminal facilitation felony charge, Bauer faces misdemeanor charges of fourth-degree criminal facilitation and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He pleaded not guilty last Thursday to the felony, which could carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

Judge William Sanchez issued an order of protection mandating Bauer keep away from the two girls for a year. Bauer was released from jail on $50,000 bond.

Millsaps, meanwhile, is also out of jail after his parents posted $100,000 bail, and then later, when arrested a second time and charged with predatory sexual assault, a $150,000 bail. He must wear an electronic monitoring device as part of his release, and he is confined to his parents’ house. Law enforcement also removed his computer so he will not have access to the Internet.

It was through the Internet, and a MySpace page, that the girls reportedly met Millsaps. MySpace is an interactive Web site that allows people to post information and photos of themselves and to contact, or be contacted by, other people logging onto the site. It has an age restriction of 14, which children are able to evade.

The incident has sparked widespread concern about Internet safety in the community and has led to Internet safety talks in the area. (

For more, read corresponding story on the front page. ) One such talk is taking place tonight, Thursday, Jan. 25, at the United Presbyterian Church on Route 22 in Amenia at 7 p.m. For more information, call Pastor Tom Marshall at 845-373-9556.

"It’s very important," Detective Imperati said, referring to informing the public about the dangers of the Internet and how to best protect one’s child. "Kids know what’s going on in the Internet, it’s the parents that don’t know what’s going on."

"It’s very important," Detective Imperati said, referring to informing the public about the dangers of the Internet and how to best protect one’s child. "Kids know what’s going on in the Internet, it’s the parents that don’t know what’s going on."