Christian County Prosecuting Attorney, Amy Fite, is pleased to announce today that 1st Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys, Christopher W. Lebeck and Donovan D. Dobbs recently spoke to prosecutors from all over the State of Missouri at the recent Missouri Prosecutor’s Spring Conference at Lake of the Ozarks on April 4-6, 2012. The Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys sponsors two annual trainings to educate and improves the state’s prosecutors.

Mr. Lebeck presented on two different days. On the first day he taught on electronic discovery using Karpel database. The second day he taught on how to legally obtain electronic evidence from smartphones and computers. Mr. Dobbs spoke on jury selection in computer crimes case and presentation of electronic evidence in trials. The subject matter is still relatively new to prosecutors even though we use computers every day and the information presented by both attorneys is vital to prosecuting criminal cases in today’s computer driven world.

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The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced today that Raymond L. Carty III, dob: 7/30/1979 of Ozark, Missouri was found guilty of the class C felony of domestic assault in the second degree after jury trial on March 19-20, 2012. The trial was presided over by the Honorable Mark Orr. Defendant was then taken into custody with a $50,000 cash/surety bond.

On May 6, 2011, officers were dispatched to a location in Ozark, Christian County, Missouri for a domestic disturbance. Officers made contact with victim L.J. who was standing in the front yard of the residence. L.J. stated that her and her live-in boyfriend had been arguing. L.J. stated that she was standing at the sink in her kitchen when defendant picked up a boiling pot of water and poured it onto her neck and shoulders. Officers noted redness to her neck and shoulders. L.J. was treated at a local hospital for first and second degree burns. Defendant stated that he and L.J. had been arguing when he accidentally burned her with he picked up a pot of boiling water off of the stove.

Sentencing is set for May 4, 2012 at 1:00 pm. The range of punishment for a class C felony is one day to one year in the Christian County Jail or two years to seven years in the Department of Corrections and/or up to a $5000 fine.

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Christian County Prosecuting Attorney, Amy J. Fite announced today that Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Benjamin J. Miller was invited to speak at the 2012 “Protecting Lives, Saving Futures DWI” conference for the State of Missouri this past week.  “Protecting Lives, Saving Futures” is a course that was created by the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) for law enforcement professionals and prosecutors around the nation that focuses on aggressive and effective DWI detection, investigation, and prosecution.  Mr. Miller’s presentation focused on combating common defense challenges.  Mr. Miller also spent time discussing the effectiveness of Christian County’s “No Refusal” program and shared ideas and resources to other agencies in order to help them start their own programs.

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Christian County Prosecuting Attorney, Amy J. Fite announced today that PAUL ROSE, dob: 5-17-1966 of Highlandville, Missouri was found guilty by a Christian County jury after a three-day trial of the unclassified felony of statutory sodomy in the first degree. The jury deliberated a little less than two hours before reaching their guilty verdict. The trial was presided over by Christian County Circuit Judge Mark Orr. Prosecuting Attorney, Amy J. Fite presented the case for the State of Missouri. Immediately following the guilty verdict the defendant was taken into custody to await sentencing.

Formal sentencing is set for April 20, 2012 at 1:00pm. The unclassified felony of statutory sodomy in the first degree is punishable by life imprisonment or a term of years not less than five years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Under Missouri Law PAUL ROSE will have to serve eighty-five (85) percent of any sentence he receives before being eligible for parole.

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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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