The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced today that the conviction of Terry W. Ruff, dob:  10/22/1991, of Ozark, Missouri was affirmed by the Court of Appeals on January 19, 2012.  Ruff was found guilty after a jury trial presided over by Judge Larry Luna on December 7, 2010 of child molestation in the second degree.

Oral arguments were heard at the Court of Appeals, Southern District, on January 10, 2012.  Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Janette Bleau prepared the State’s brief and argued the State’s position at the Court of Appeals.

Ruff appealed his conviction raising two points: (1) the videotaped interview of Ruff at the Ozark Police Station by Detective Southard was a result of an unlawful seizure and (2) his waiver of his Miranda rights was unknowing and voluntary.  The Court of Appeals ruled that Point 1 had not been preserved for appeal because during the trial the defense attorney did not object to the video tape as being a result of an unlawful seizure.  On Point 2, the Court of Appeals ruled that Ruff’s waiver of his Miranda Rights was knowing and voluntary.

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The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced today that Ryan F. Daugherty, dob: 1/10/1983, of Nixa, Missouri was found guilty after a jury trial presided over by Judge John Waters on January 26, 2011.

Evidence presented by the State showed:  On September 20, 2010, Sgt. Bybee was dispatched to a residence in Nixa, Missouri for two males fighting.  When Sgt. Bybee arrived within a few minutes of being dispatched, he saw a male, Ryan Daugherty in the driveway of the residence.  Sgt. Bybee exited his vehicle and approached the suspect.  Daugherty then began walking away, Sgt. Bybee told Daugherty to stop, Daugherty continued to walk away, Sgt. Bybee again told Daugherty to stop, but Daugherty ran behind the home.  Sgt. Bybee pursued Daugherty around the back of the house.  A woman exited the residence on the side of the home Daugherty ran to, and then Daugherty exited the home in an aggressive manner and yelling at the officer.  Sgt. Bybee was unable to speak with Daugherty due to Daugherty’s angry and aggressive manner.  For officer safety, Sgt. Bybee then grabbed Daugherty off the deck he was standing on.  Both fell to the ground and as Sgt. Bybee got up, Daugherty, from a crouched position, lunged at the officer and grabbed him around his torso trying to push the officer off balance.  Sgt. Bybee was unable to free himself from Daugherty’s grasp until back up officer,  Officer Donohue,  arrived to assist.

The range of punishment for each class A misdemeanor is up to one thousand dollars ($1000.00) and up to one (1) year in the county jail.  The case is set for February 27, 2012 for arguments on post-trial motions.

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Christian County Prosecuting Attorney, Amy J. Fite is very proud to announce that the office spent 6.9% less than what was spent in the 2010 fiscal year. Total office expenditures for 2011 after grant reimbursement was $652,887.92 compared to the $701,100.62 that was actually spent from the general revenue budget in 2010. In 2010, $695,209 was budgeted. In 2011, $654,932 was budgeted for office expenditures.

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Christian County Prosecuting Attorney, Amy J. Fite announced today that CHAD HAWLEY, dob: 2/5/1977 of Ozark, Missouri was sentenced Friday by Christian County Circuit Judge Mark Orr to seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the class C felony statutory sodomy in the second degree, and four (4) years for the class D felony of unlawful use of a weapon. Probation was denied and CHAD HAWLEY is subject to lifetime registration requirements.

On June 10, 2011, thirty-four (34) CHAD HAWLEY engaged in deviate sexual intercourse with a fourteen (14) year old female at her residence in Ozark, Missouri. The father of the fourteen (14) year old juvenile walked in on CHAD HAWLEY engaging in deviate sexual intercourse with his daughter in the front living room of their residence in the early morning hours. From the investigation by the Christian County Sheriff’s Department, it was learned that CHAD HAWLEY had a relation with this fourteen (14) year old juvenile since early February.

On September 24, 2011, while out on a $10,000 surety bond set that was set by Associate Circuit Judge John Waters on the above charge, CHAD HAWLEY was apprehended a short distance from the juvenile’s residence. On his person he had concealed a four inch knife. The Christian County Sheriff’s Department was called out to the residence, because CHAD HAWLEY had been seen by the juvenile hiding in the bushes outside her residence. CHAD HAWLEY was calling her name.

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