photo by: Wyandotte County Jail

Kenneth Wayne Soap

A Lawrence man has been charged in Douglas County District Court with multiple sex crimes involving eight children between the ages of 12 and 16.

Kenneth Wayne Soap, 43, faces one count of aggravated human trafficking, two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, two counts of aggravated trading in child pornography, four counts of attempted exploitation of a child, and one count of sexual extortion. All of the charges are felonies and many are off-grid felonies, meaning that if convicted Soap could face life in prison. The charges relate to multiple incidents in January.

Soap was arrested on Aug. 19 in the 900 block of Massachusetts in connection with a felony theft charge in Platte County, Missouri.

His Douglas County charges were filed on Aug. 23, and are in connection with a “request to speak with officer” call on Jan. 27 in the 1400 block of Massachusetts Street. Listed as a witness in the charging document is the Liberty Memorial Central Middle School’s resource officer, Cpl. Dean Kemppainen.

The Douglas County Jail booking log lists Soap as having a Lawrence address, but documents filed with the court suggest his address is the Lawrence Community Shelter, 3655 E. 25th St.

Soap is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday. He is being held on a $250,000 bond in Douglas County and has a bond of $50,000 in connection with his Missouri charge, according to the jail booking log.

Soap has convictions in Douglas County for felony battery, misdemeanor battery and DUI in 2008.