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Charged with child molestation, Amberg founder on administrative leave

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The founder of event-planning and entertainment-booking company Amberg Events has been placed on administrative leave as he faces charges of child molestation.

Edward “Ted” Amberg was indicted Aug. 23 on two counts of child molestation in the first degree, a class B felony, according to Greene County Circuit Court documents.

Court documents allege Amberg subjected a girl who was younger than 14 years old to “sexual contact” in December 2008.

“While defendant [alleged victim identification redacted] was in bed with him and his wife, he began kissing, touching her breasts, and placed his hands down her pants and touched her vagina,” according to the Greene County prosecuting attorney’s bail/bond recommendation filed Aug. 23. “Defendant told the family to keep his actions a secret.”

The court documents indicate a grand jury will be convened. An arraignment is scheduled Aug. 31, according to the most recent case entry.

Amberg Events owner Micki McShane this morning released a statement on the charges. She said her McShane Enterprises LLC has owned Amberg Events since 2014.

“We are shocked by these charges and Ted has been placed on administrative leave until further notice. Ted has been a loyal employee here and the allegations are hard to believe,” McShane said in the statement. “Because this is a legal and personnel matter, we cannot comment further.”

Amberg, the previous owner of the business he founded in 1996, had been listed as CEO at AmbergEvents.com as recently as yesterday. He’s since been removed from the staff page.

Amberg led the company, previously known as Amberg Entertainment, to expand into multiple states and earn several awards, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

The company was the 2006 recipient of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce’s W. Curtis Strube Small Business of the Year award. Amberg Entertainment was named the No. 1 employer in the 25-100 employee category for SBJ’s Choice Employers event in 2010, and Amberg was a member of SBJ’s 2005 class of 40 Under 40.

A statement issued by the Law Offices of Dee Wampler & Joseph Passanise PC, which is representing Amberg in the court case, referenced his awards and charitable work and said he “enjoys an excellent reputation in the community.”

“Edward ‘Ted’ Amberg is a successful businessman and a professional entertainment and booking agent,” the statement reads. “He has been featured on ‘Good Morning America,’ MTV and ‘Jimmy Kimmel.’

“There has been a 10-year, long-standing divorce with child visitation issues.”

The statement, which does not claim Amberg’s innocence, indicates he has three children. Court records show a “dissolution of marriage” with Heather Amberg was granted in 2014.

Amberg Events, according to its website, “is the premier provider of turnkey, stress-free events” with inflatable rentals and other attractions available.

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