ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO. – St. Louis County prosecutors charged a former Lindbergh School District teacher and coach Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, with four felony counts involving alleged sexual contact with three students between 1995 and 2008.
James Wilder III, 60, of the 800 block of Totem Woods Court in Ballwin, Mo., faces the following counts:
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Three Counts of Statutory Sodomy 2nd Degree
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Attempted Statutory Sodomy 1st Degree – Deviate Sexual Intercourse with a Person Less than 14 years old
He is being held on a $300,000 cash-only bond, with no 10% payment option.
According to the probable cause statement, three students disclosed that Wilder engaged in sexual contact with them while he was employed as a teacher through the district. Wilder was older than 21 at the time of the alleged offenses.
One student, who was younger than 17 at the time, reported that Wilder engaged in sexual contact with her between April 1, 2007, and Nov. 6, 2008, the statement said.
A second student, who was younger than 14, reported that Wilder committed multiple acts of sexual contact against her between Aug. 1, 2005, and Dec. 1, 2006.
A third student, who was younger than 17, reported that Wilder and herself engaged in sexual conduct between Aug. 1, 1995, and Sept. 21, 1996.
The St. Louis County Police Bureau of Crimes Against Persons’ Cold Case Unit is handling the investigation.
The charges are accusations. Wilder is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
