KBI Arrests Former Kansas Deputy for Sex Crimes

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has arrested a former Kansas sheriff's deputy for sex crimes following a missing persons case investigated with the Hays Police Department.

On Friday, March 29 at approximately 7:15 PM, KBI agents arrested 24-year-old Michael Tennyson of Iola at the Allen County Sheriff's Office. Tennyson was arrested for aggravated indecent liberties with a child. In January, Tennyson had been newly hired as a deputy for the Allen County Sheriff's Office. His employment was terminated Friday when the allegations became known.

On Friday at around 3:30 PM, the Hays Police Department requested KBI assistance to help locate a 15-year-old runaway. The juvenile had been missing since March 22. Hays police officers believed the teen was with Tennyson in Iola. The Allen County Sheriff's Office was notified of the situation at 4 PM. They quickly located the juvenile at Tennyson's residence and placed her into protective custody.

KBI agents gathered additional evidence in the case and interviewed the parties involved. The Bourbon County Sheriff's Office, the Iola Police Department and the Ray County, Missouri Sheriff's Office also assisted in this investigation. After his arrest, Tennyson was booked into the Allen County Jail, but he will be housed at the Bourbon County Jail.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME. Anonymous tips can be submitted online at https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar. The investigation is ongoing.

All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

(Information and photo courtesy KBI.)