Jan. 28 UPDATE: Daniel “Todd” Mahn, a De Soto City Council member and businessman facing felony rape and sodomy charges, turned himself in at the Jefferson County Jail on Tuesday morning, Jan. 27, and posted a $100,000 cash-only bond before his release.
On Jan. 22, a special prosecutor from the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office filed court documents seeking charges in Jefferson County against Mahn for either first-degree rape or second-degree rape, as well as either first-degree sodomy or second-degree sodomy.
The first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy charges are unclassified felonies punishable by five years to life in prison. The second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy charges are class D felonies punishable by up to seven years in prison.
A warrant for his arrest was issued on Jan. 23.
According to the charges, Mahn raped and sodomized a woman on Oct. 18, 2024, at his home in De Soto.
The probable-cause statement alleges that while the woman was drinking a glass of whiskey, she “blacked out and became incapacitated and Mahn raped and sodomized her.
The investigation into the allegations against him began Oct. 19, 2024.
The De Soto Police Department took the initial reports, and the case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control. The case was assigned to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office on Feb. 13, 2025, after Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Trisha Stefanski requested that a special prosecutor be appointed.
Mahn, 55, owns Mahn Funeral Home and Mahn Cemetery and Mausoleum. He was elected to the De Soto City Council in April 2023. He was named mayor pro tem in November 2025 following a reorganization of the council when Rich McCane stepped down as mayor and mayor pro tem Matt Franken became mayor. The pro tem acts in the mayor’s absence during meetings.
Mahn referred comments to his attorneys, William Goldstein and Scott Rosenblum of St. Louis, who issued a joint written statement on Tuesday morning, saying, “Todd Mahn has been a trusted and respected member of the Jefferson County community for decades and is the third-generation owner of Mahn Funeral Homes and Peaceful Ridge Cemetery/Mausoleum, which he has owned since 1988.
“Mr. Mahn has consistently and unequivocally denied the allegations against him. The claims came as a profound surprise to him and his family. From the outset, he has cooperated fully with the legal process, including voluntarily submitting to a polygraph examination, which he passed. Over the past few days, Mr. Mahn has been the target of harassment and intimidation within the community, conduct that is deeply troubling and unacceptable.
“Mr. Mahn respects the judicial process and remains confident that the truth will prevail. He looks forward to the opportunity to address these allegations in court and restore his good name.”
De Soto City Manager Todd Melkus said on Jan. 23 that the city had no comment about the charges filed against Mahn.
Rosenblum officially entered his appearance as Mahn’s attorney on Tuesday morning. Mahn’s first court appearance will be at 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6, before Division 1 Circuit Court Judge Joseph Rathert.
According to information obtained from the Missouri State Highway Patrol through a Sunshine Law request, the alleged victim told De Soto Police officers and later Highway Patrol investigators that on Oct. 18, 2024, she ran into Mahn, whom she had been friends with for a few years but had not been romantically involved with, and he invited her to his home where he served her a glass of “expensive whiskey” with a large ice cube.
The woman told investigators that at one point Mahn asked if she wanted the drink topped off and she declined, saying she hadn’t even finished the first one. Sometime after that, the woman stepped out of his house to speak to someone for about 45 minutes. When she came back, she noticed the glass looked full and reminded Mahn she did not want a refill, and he responded that he had added another ice cube and that’s why the glass looked full again. She said she took another drink from the glass and doesn’t remember much after that.
The woman said at one point Mahn tried to kiss her, and she told him they would never be more than friends, and he didn’t seem upset.
She also told officers that she doesn’t remember texting a female friend at 8:45 p.m. asking the woman to come over to hang out. The friend was busy and did not come over.
The alleged victim said she woke up at about 2 a.m. in a dark room in Mahn’s bed and then got her clothes and phone and left. She said she doesn’t really remember driving home, but she woke up in her own bed at about 6 a.m. in pain and called her friend to take her to a local hospital.
According to the probable-cause statement, medical records revealed the victim had injuries that included “bruised left wrist, bruised left arm, bruised right knee/leg, bruised right lower leg, bruised right ankle, bruised right heel, bruised left foot, bruised right knee, bruised left ankle, bruised left knee, and bruised vaginal area during the sexual assault.”
On Oct. 22, 2024, investigators conducted a search warrant at Mahn’s home, and Mahn refused to make any statements, court documents said.
During the execution of the search warrant at Mahn’s residence, items of evidence were seized from Mahn's residence that corroborated statements made by the victim, the report said.
Later, on Nov. 13, 2024, investigators received a letter prepared and signed by Mahn's attorney that claimed Mahn and the victim “had consensual sexual relations.”
ORIGINAL STORY:
Daniel “Todd” Mahn, a De Soto City Council member and owner of Mahn Funeral Home and Mahn Cemetery and Mausoleum, has been charged in Jefferson County for alleged rape and sodomy.
On Thursday, Jan. 22, a special prosecutor from the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office filed court documents seeking a charge of first-degree rape or second-degree rape, as well as a charge of first-degree sodomy or second-degree sodomy.
The first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy charges are unclassified felonies punishable by five years to life in prison. The second-degree rape and second-degree sodomy charges are class D felonies punishable by up to seven years in prison.
A warrant for his arrest was issued today, Jan. 23. The Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office has requested a $100,000 cash-only bond, court records show.
According to the charges, Mahn raped and sodomized a woman on Oct. 18, 2024. The investigation into the allegations against him began the next day.
The De Soto Police Department took the initial reports, and the case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol Division of Drug and Crime Control. The case was assigned to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office on Feb. 13, 2025, after Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Trisha Stefanski requested that a special prosecutor be appointed.
Mahn, 55, was elected to the De Soto City Council in April 2023. He was named mayor pro tem in November 2025 following a reorganization of the council when Rich McCane stepped down as mayor and mayor pro tem Matt Franken became mayor. The pro tem acts in the mayor’s absence during meetings.
Mahn referred comments to his attorney, William Goldstein of St. Louis, who he said was in court today. Goldstein could not immediately be reached for comment.
In November 2024, Mahn told the Leader he was aware that false allegations had been made against him and Goldstein further stated Mahn denies any wrongdoing.
De Soto City Manager Todd Melkus said today that the city has no comment about the charges filed against Mahn.