According to a probable cause statement filed by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 62-year-old Richard “Rick” L. Renno of Lincoln, Missouri is accused of using the social media app Grindr to solicit sexual contact with a 14-year-old minor. The investigation began in April 2025, after the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control received a report of an adult male attempting to entice a child for sex.
Authorities say Renno allegedly used a Grindr account and sent a nude photo of himself to a minor. The photo was positively identified by a family member as having been taken at Renno’s residence on State Highway C in Lincoln. The witness also indicated that Renno had a history of using electronic devices to communicate with young men.
On June 9, 2025, investigators interviewed Renno. During the interview, he admitted to having a Grindr account for roughly a decade and acknowledged engaging in conversations with minors under 18 “two or three times.” He also recognized the profile photo used and confirmed sending the nude photo in question.
Renno is facing charges of:
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Sexual Misconduct of a Child Under 15 – 1st Offense
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Enticement of a Child
The charges stem from alleged incidents reported to have occurred in August 2024. Renno is currently being held pending further legal proceedings.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol emphasizes that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
