Two men accused of sodomy

Two men arrested Tuesday are accused of having sexual contact with an underage boy.

Jerry Colster, 73, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of second-degree statutory sodomy, and Don Landers, 76, was arrested on one count of the same. Both are being held at the Boone County Jail. Bond is set at $30,000 cash only for Colster and $15,000 cash only for Landers.

Law enforcement officers from Boonville and Howard County told Columbia police detectives July 16 that there was an open investigation into statutory sodomy that occurred between July 22, 2011, and Jan. 31, beginning when the boy was 14, Columbia police spokeswoman Bryana Maupin said. The victim told police the first incident occurred between July 2011 and July 2012 in a restroom of the Midway Travel Plaza, 6401 Highway 40 E., according to a probable cause statement.

The victim told police another encounter occurred between Dec. 1 and Jan. 31 at Colster’s residence in the 3100 block of Wind River Court, according to a statement. Landers also allegedly participated in that encounter. The boy was 16 at that time, the statement said.

Colster admitted to a detective to having participated in the incidents, a statement said, and also that he watched Landers and the victim engage in the illicit activity.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Department arrested Landers at his home at 1404 S. Cedar Grove Blvd. at 11 p.m. Tuesday. Columbia police arrested Colster at 12:46 p.m. Tuesday at the police department after interviewing him.