A Nigerian-born former police officer in the United States, Sinmi Asomuyide, 33, has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl while on duty.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) disclosed that Asomuyide, a former officer with the Kokomo Police Department in Indiana, was sentenced in November 2026. He will also serve three years of supervised release after completing his prison term.

Chief District Judge James Sweeney II imposed the sentence following his conviction in June 2026 after a five-day jury trial.

He was found guilty of depriving the victim of her civil rights under colour of law, witness tampering and destruction of records.

According to court documents, Asomuyide first encountered the teenager on June 30, 2024, after her father contacted emergency services to report her missing as a runaway.

After locating the girl, he transported her to the Kinsey Youth Center. Investigators established that he switched off his body camera, obtained her phone number and later contacted her through the messaging platform TextNow.

Prosecutors said he subsequently used his position and police authority to pick up the teenager from a family friend’s apartment, handcuff her and transport her in his patrol vehicle to an isolated warehouse parking lot, where he sexually assaulted her.

He reportedly returned her to the apartment complex after the attack.

The victim subsequently reported the incident to her family and law enforcement authorities, prompting an investigation by Indiana State Police.

Forensic examination of the patrol vehicle uncovered a semen stain on the centre console that matched Asomuyide’s DNA.

Investigators also discovered that he had searched online for ways to delete his TextNow account shortly after the incident.

The DOJ further disclosed that Asomuyide had previously faced allegations of sexual misconduct involving a 15-year-old girl while working with the Portsmouth Police Department in Virginia. He reportedly resigned following the allegation and later misrepresented the circumstances of his departure when applying for the Kokomo police position.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said the Department of Justice would continue holding public officials accountable for civil rights violations.

US Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Tom Wheeler, said Asomuyide abused the authority and resources entrusted to him as a police officer to commit the crime and attempt to conceal it.

The FBI also condemned the abuse of public trust, stressing that law enforcement officers entrusted with protecting children must never become perpetrators of crimes against them.