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	More Allegations of Sex Assault against Mccain Staffer in Pueblo By Nick Bonham Colorado Springs Gazette February 5, 2009 http://www.gazette.com/articles/bartleson_47520___article.html/victims_reportedly.html More allegations of sexual assault on a child surfaced against the office manager for Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign office in Pueblo. Jeffery Claude Bartleson, 52, was rearrested Wednesday on two additional warrants of sexual assault on a child by a person in position of trust. He was being held in Pueblo County jail in lieu of $300,000 bail. Bartleson, a former Boy Scout leader and youth sponsor, was arrested Jan. 29 on similar charges. He posted $150,000 bail the day of his arrest and has been free until detectives with the Pueblo Police Department re-arrested him on the new warrants at his residence in the 2200 block of Cartier Drive. News of the well-known car salesman, Republican, church member and homeless activist's arrest reportedly has prompted more alleged victims to come forward. "Because of the article in The Pueblo Chieftain, more people are feeling comfortable to come forward," police Sgt. Brett Wilson said. The latest cases bring the total of alleged victim's to four. Victim's in all of the cases were juvenile boys between 5 and 15 years of age. According to court records, Bartleson has been investigated for similar allegations since 1982. He reportedly befriended his victims through scouting, the Interfaith Hospitality Network which supplies food, shelter and support to homeless families at King of Kings Lutheran Church, the Chemical Dependency Unit at Parkview Medical Center, and Republican rallies in the latest presidential election. Often with their parent's consent, Bartleson would invite the victim's to spend the night at his South Side home. Bartleson has a spare downstairs bedroom for his guests. During the night Bartleson, who is married, would often make the victim's sleep in his bedroom, which is separate from his wife's, according to the documents. Bartleson reportedly fondled the victims in his bedroom. The children often escaped to the downstairs bedroom, but Bartleson would reportedly carry them back to his room. Some of his victims reportedly showered in a downstairs bathroom, where Bartleson reportedly videotaped them bathing through an outside window well, according to arrest affidavits. In some cases, he watched the children urinate and defecate in the bathroom against their will. Bartleson allegedly threatened to physically harm or kill his victims to keep his lust a secret, according to the affidavits. In some cases, he'd buy the children shoes, clothes, a bicycle -- gifts he'd reportedly give in exchange for their silence. In one document, a victim called the gifts "bribes" District Attorney Bill Thiebaut said his office would have to review all police reports to determine if the statute of limitation is a factor. ''Without looking at all the cases, it's hard to take guesses" at the length of times these incidents can be investigated, Thiebaut said. "The statue of limitations can be very technical and difficult." Gus Sandstrom, Thiebaut's predecessor who held the district attorney post for 24 years, said he remembers investigating Bartleson during his tenure. ''Yes, (Bartleson) had been a suspect before. We, law enforcement, tried to watch him, but there wasn't enough evidence to proceed with a case," Sandstrom said. "There was one case that came close to being very prosecutable. I don't remember the facts, but it had something to do with the victim and harm (that) might occur psychologically to the child, if I recall." An active member of Boy Scouts, Sandstrom said he had heard Bartleson was a scout leader, but he was never part of his troop. Sandstrom said it's not uncommon for child victims of sexual abuse to talk about their experiences later in life. ''That is not unusual, particularly with pedophiles," Sandstrom said. "They are uncannily convincing to their victims. Their victims often seem to be educated into it being their fault, and they're embarrassed by it." Bartleson handled Sen. McCain's campaign for Southern Colorado, according to local Republicans. In June 2003, former Republican U.S. Congressman Scott McInnis read Bartleson's name and accomplishments into the Congressional record, including his work with the Young Life Association, El Pueblo Boys and Girls Ranch and the Interfaith Hospitality Network, of which he was a board president. ''Throughout his life, Jeff has exhibited the virtues of compassion, self-determination, self-sacrifice, and hard work that have made this country great . . . Despite his achievements, Jeff has remained humble and continued with his selfless work," the tribute said. McInnis ended his speech by saying: "Jeff, all the best to you now and in the future."
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