Kansas sheriff’s deputy investigated in case of alleged inappropriate relationship with Mass. juvenile

COLUMBUS, Kansas (WLNE) — A Kansas sheriff’s deputy is sought on charges from the Bristol County District Attorney’s office after a joint investigation by Kansas and Massachusetts law enforcement, according to the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

The Bristol County DA issued an arrest warrant on May 9 for Garrett Gayoso, 24, of Baxter Springs, Kansas, on the charge of Obscene Material.

The joint investigation between Massachusetts and Kansas authorities began when Fall River police notified the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office that one of their deputies had allegedly engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a Massachusetts juvenile.

This April 28, 2025 notification led to the investigation between Cherokee County detectives, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and “the law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts.”

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation was involved in the investigation due to the involvement of a Cherokee County deputy.

Upon completion of the investigation, Gayoso was placed on administrative leave pending an internal and criminal investigation, and he has since resigned from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office.

On May 13, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office was made aware that the arrest warrant for Gayoso was entered into the national law enforcement database with nationwide extradition, and efforts were made to take him into custody.

Gayoso was not located, and his attorney advised Cherokee County personnel that Gayoso had made plans to surrender himself to law enforcement in Massachusetts.

ABC6 has reached out to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Fall River Police Department and the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office for comment on this case.