OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that Robert E. Bair, Jr., dob: 11-3-1983, pleaded guilty to Assault 1st Degree in front of the Honorable Judge Mark Orr on September 27, 2013.

Pursuant to a plea agreement Robert Bair pleaded guilty to Assault in the First Degree, class A felony. The terms of the plea agreement include the defendant receiving a Suspended Imposition of Sentence and being placed on probation for 5 years. If the probation were subsequently revoked then the defendant could face a sentence of 10 to 30 years of life in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

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OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that William Copher, dob: 07/05/1973 of Nixa, Missouri was found guilty after a jury trial presided over by the Honorable Judge Mark Orr on September 9, 2013, of unlawful use of a weapon and domestic assault in the third degree. The jury deliberated twenty-four (24) minutes.
First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Janette Bleau represented the State of Missouri. Evidence presented by the State included:

Victim K.M. testified that during the period of 01-03-12 to 01-04-12 while at her home in Christian County, Missouri her boyfriend, William E. Copher, engaged in a series of physical attacks and threats against her; including hitting, slapping, and stomping her in the face and head, throwing hot butter on her legs, threatening to burn and cut her face, threatening her with a knife to dismember her and kill her. K.M. testified that defendant further cut off her ability to communicate or leave the residence by taking away her car keys and phone. K.M testified defendant had threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone what he did. K.M told the jury she was afraid and believed Mr. Copher would kill her. K.M. stated that she caused a black eye to defendant when he had her on the floor, and he was on top of her, her puppy tried to protect her barking at the defendant and defendant punched the puppy to get it away from him. K.M. stated when defendant did that, she struck him in the facing causing a black eye. Deputy Durham, of the Christian County Sheriff’s Department, testified regarding booking the defendant into the jail on January 8, 2013 and to the booking photo taken that day of the defendant showing defendant with a black eye.

Deputy K. Heitman, of the Christian County Sheriff’s Department, and Sue Ann Robinson, of Missouri State Probation and Parole Office both testified that on January 5, 2013, they made contact with K.M. and noticed injuries to K.M. such as: her left eye was swollen, black, blue, and red in color; a cut to the back of her scalp; blood in her hair; burns to her legs and bruising to her ear. Photographs of K.M.’s injuries were also presented as evidence to the jury. Deputy Heitman and Ms. Robinson testified that K.M. was crying and distraught and that K.M. told her that defendant had threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone what he did. K.M told them she was afraid and believed Mr. Copher would kill her.

Further, the Court found the defendant to be a prior and persistent felony offender based on the following:

On or about July 14, 2003, defendant was convicted of the felony of burglary in the second degree in the Circuit Court of Greene County, Missouri, Case no. 31302CF6045, and
On or about July 24, 1992, defendant was convicted of the felony of burglary in the second degree, in the Circuit Court of Greene County, Missouri, Case no. 591CR1334.

Further, the Court found the defendant to have two prior domestic assault in the third degree convictions based on the following:

On or about November 6, 2002, defendant pleaded guilty to class A misdemeanor of domestic assault in the Circuit Court of Greene County, Missouri, Case No. 31301CF7597.
On or about July 14, 2003, defendant pleaded guilty to the class A misdemeanor of domestic assault in the third degree in the Circuit Court of Greene County, Missouri, Case No. 31302CF11711.

As a prior and persistent offender, the range of punishment for unlawful use of a weapon is: one year in the Christian County Jail or two to seven years in the Department of Corrections and/or up to a $5000 fine.

Range of punishment for domestic assault in the third degree, with 2 prior third degree domestic assaults, and as a prior and persistent felony offender is: one year in the Christian County Jail or two to seven years in the Department of Corrections and/or up to a $5000 fine.

Sentencing is set for November 22, 2013.

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OZARK, MO – On July 26, 2013 Tyler Clemans pled guilty before the Honorable Judge Mark Orr to the class B felony of assault of a law enforcement officer in the second degree.

This case was set for jury trial on July 26, 2013, prior to the commencement of the jury trial the defendant entered his plea of guilty to the class B felony of assault of a law enforcement officer in the second degree.

On Sunday, January 1, 2012, Deputy Kyle Wilson of the Christian County Sheriff’s office was dispatched to a residence located at in Christian County, Missouri regarding a possible domestic dispute involving Tyler Clemans. During the 911 call for help, Clemans was heard yelling if officers were sent to the location he would assault them.

Deputy Wilson was the first responding officer to the scene where he placed Clemans’ under arrest. Clemans’ did not comply with verbal commands and physical resisted; ultimately, Clemans struck the Deputy in the right eye with a beer bottle, causing lacerations to the Deputy’s right brow line and right cheek. Deputy Wilson after his injuries continued with his efforts to take the defendant into physical custody and with the arrival of other officers at the scene together were able to take the defendant into custody.
Deputy Wilson was taken to nearby emergency room where he received five stitches to the lacerations and diagnosed with a nasal bone fracture.

The range of punishment for the class B felony of assault of a law enforcement officer in the second degree is: five to fifteen years in the Department of Corrections.

Sentencing is set for October 11, 2013.

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OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced today that Colby L. Sanders, dob: 07/31/1970 of Ozark, Missouri was sentenced to the Missouri Department of Corrections after being previously found guilty by a jury on December 6, 2012. The jury found him guilty of two counts of child molestation in the first degree, two counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree, one count of forcible rape and one count of forcible sodomy.
Judge Orr had ordered that the Missouri Department of Corrections prepare a sentencing assessment report. After reviewing the report and hearing from both the State and the defense, Judge Orr sentenced Sanders to fifteen years on each count of Child Molestation in the First Degree, forty years on each count of Statutory Sodomy in the First Degree, forty years on the conviction of Forcible Rape and forty year on the conviction of Forcible Sodomy. Judge Orr ordered that the sentence were to run concurrent with each other.

The convictions for Statutory Sodomy in the First degree, Forcible Rape and Forcible Sodomy require that the defendant serve eighty-five percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole. The defendant would also be subject to lifetime supervision by the Missouri Department of Correction and lifetime registration as a sex offender should he ever be released from prison.

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OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that Oscar L. Howell , dob: 3/11/1976 of Ozark, Missouri was found guilty after a jury trial presided over by the Honorable Judge Mark Orr on April 29-30, 2013, of domestic assault in the third degree and unlawful use of a weapon.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Janette Bleau represented the State of Missouri. Evidence presented by the State included:

On July 8, 2011, Deputy J. Lofton of the Christian County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to a residence in Christian County, Missouri. The victim, who was in an ongoing relationship and had children in common with Howell, testified she and Howell were in an argument when he arrived at her home in the early morning hours. She stated Howell had choked her, threatened her with a knife and a gun. She also stated Howell had threatened suicide and cut his own face. Howell had fled the home prior to the Deputy’s arrival. Howell was found walking on W Highway, approximately a mile and a half from the residence, a few hours later by Trooper Smith. Trooper Smith transported Howell to the Christian County Jail where Deputy Lofton spoke with Howell after reading Miranda rights to him. Howell indicated he had been at the home that morning and that he and the victim argued. Howell admitted to threatening suicide. Deputy Lofton noticed cut marks to Howell’s face.

Further, the Court found the defendant to be a prior and persistent felony offender based on the following:

That on or about the 18th day of June, 2010 defendant pled guilty in the Circuit Court of Christian County, Case No. 08N8-CR00834-01 to assault in the second degree, and

That on or about 10th day of April, 1996, defendant pled in the Circuit Court of Greene County, Case No. 31495CF1511, to robbery in the first degree.

Range of punishment for domestic assault in the third degree is: one day to one year in the Christian County Jail and/or a fine up to $1000.

As a prior and persistent offender the range of punishment for unlawful use of a weapon is: one year in the Christian County Jail or two to seven years in the Department of Corrections and/or up to a $5000 fine.

Sentencing is set for June 21, 2013.

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