Monroe Co. 4-H leader, employee arrested on sexual assault charges

2/11/2014

Robert Stumpmier

MONROE -- A volunteer leader of a local 4-H club and an employee of his music store were arrested after police received a complaint that a teen member of the youth group had been sexually assaulted.

Robert Stumpmier, 50, of South Rockwood, Mich. and Nathaniel Rumbarger, 21, of Luna Pier, were taken to the Monroe County jail on Saturday after police executed a search warrant on their homes and Mr. Stumpmier's business.

Mr. Stumpmier is the owner of Power Play Music in downtown Monroe and the leader of Monroe Music Makers in the Monroe County 4-H program. He was arraigned Monday in Monroe County District Court on two counts of accosting and soliciting a minor for immoral purposes and one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He is being held in the county jail in lieu of $50,000.

Mr. Rumbarger, who works for Mr. Stumpmier, is charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct. His bond was set at $10,000 during his arraignment on Monday. Both men were told to return to court on Thursday for pre-trial hearings.

Conviction of criminal sexual conduct carries a 15-year prison sentence.

Det. John Wall of the Monroe Police Department said the parents of a 16-year-old Monroe boy went to police last week after their son told them that he had been sexually abused by the two men.

According to court documents, alleged inappropriate activity between the victim and the men began in January, 2012, when the boy was 14 years old, and continued until recently.

Detective Wall said he provided information to the county prosecutor's office to obtain the search warrants that were executed on Saturday at the homes and music store. Among the items taken by police were computers, cell phones, cameras, and other electronic devices, CDs, DVDs, and videotapes, investigators said.

Detective Wall said the victim belongs to the Monroe Music Maker and there had been "grooming behavior" leading up to the sexual activity.

Judy See, Monroe County's 4-H youth educator, said Mr. Stumpmier has been a volunteer director for the organization for three years. She said she was unaware that he had been arrested over the weekend.

Ms. See said she would not comment when asked if she had received any calls from parents about Mr. Stumpmier. She said she had not been contacted by police.

Youngsters in Mr. Stumpmier's group, a country music band, play musical instruments and perform throughout the county, she said.

A posting on the Facebook page for Power Play Music has information on how to schedule the 4-H band for events. 

The Monroe Music Makers is one of nearly 130 4-H clubs in the county. The organization serves more than 2,000 boys and girls, ages 7 to 19 years old, she said.

Detective Wall is urging anyone with information that could be helpful in the investigation to call the police department at 734-243-7509.

Contact Mark Reiter at: markreiter@theblade.com or 419-724-6199.