According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Chief…

According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Derrick O'Meara, who is the Director of the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center, a Rome man has been arrested for having inappropriate contact with an underage female child.

The investigation began on December 10, 2020, after a 15 year old female child disclosed that Richard J. Meier, age 35, had sexually abused her. This case was assigned to Sheriff’s Investigator Mark R. Chrysler.

Investigator Chrysler’s investigation revealed that the abuse lasted for a 10-year duration, starting when the child was 5 years old. The case was subsequently sent to the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office for Grand Jury consideration.

On April 30, 2021, Meier was indicted by the Oneida County Grand Jury on one count of Predatory Sexual Assault Against a Child, a Class A-II Felony, one count of Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child in the First Degree, a Class B Felony, and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A Misdemeanor. An Arrest Warrant was issued for Meier after his indictment.

The Arrest Warrant was turned over to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Warrants Unit who sent the warrant nationwide to all law enforcement agencies.

Later in the evening of April 30, 2021, Meier was stopped by the Oklahoma State Police for a traffic violation and subsequently arrested on the warrant.

With the assistance of the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office and the Oneida County Warrants Unit, Meier was extradited back to Oneida County on May 15, 2021.

Meier was arraigned on the charges on May 17, 2021. After arraignment, Meier was ordered to be held at the Oneida County Jail without bail.

An order of protection has been issued and services offered to the child.