OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that Natausha L. Grady, dob: 06-29-1977, pleaded guilty on December 3, 2014, to three cases involving multiple property-related crimes in front of the Honorable Senior Judge John Roberts. Natausha Grady pleaded guilty as a prior and persistent felony offender and received a sentence of 14 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Grady was charged with the class C felonies stealing and receiving stolen property for events that occurred on May 30, 2013. Grady stole a purse along with makeup, sunglasses, a phone, and Credit Cards out of the victim’s vehicle parked at the Hopedale Baptist Church in Ozark, Missouri. Christian Co. case number 13CT-CR01075-01.
Grady was charged with the class C felonies of forgery (two counts) and receiving stolen property for events that occurred between October 3, 2013 and October 5, 2013. Grady stole purses and wallets from three different victims, including a volunteer in the children’s department at James River Assembly, a bus driver, and individual at her daughter’s soccer game. Grady used checks and credit cards out of the wallets, including locations in Springfield and Nixa. Christian Co. case number 13CT-CR02091-01.

Grady was charged with the class C felonies of receiving stolen property and forgery, the class D felony of fraudulent use of a credit device, and two misdemeanor counts of stealing for events occurring between January 10 and January 13, 2014. Grady stole purses from three different victims. Grady used checks or attempted to use checks and credit cards stolen from those purses at different locations, including locations in Ozark and Nixa. Grady also stole merchandise at Ozark Mountain Granite located in Ozark, MO. Christian Co. case number 14CT-CR00110-01 consolidated into 14CT-CR00188-01.

Grady was charged with the class B felony of trafficking in stolen identities, the class C felonies of receiving stolen property, two counts of misdemeanor stealing, a count of misdemeanor receiving stolen property, and attempted stealing for events occurring between January 27 and January 29, 2014. Grady stole purses, wallets, phones, and forms of personal identification from seven different victims. Grady was arrested on January 29, 2014, with a large number of those identifications, as well as a stolen phone with her by Nixa Police Department. Grady also attempted to use the credit cards at various places in Springfield and Nixa. Christian Co. case number 14CT-CR00188-01.

Each case was committed after Grady had posted a bond. The State moved to hold Grady without bond after the incident in late January 2014, because she posed a danger to the community, and that request was granted by the Court. The cases had been set for jury trial on December 8, 2014.

The range of punishment for a class B felony is five (5) to fifteen (15) years incarceration. The range of punishment for a class C felony is one day up to seven (7) years incarceration and/or a fine not to exceed $5000. The range of punishment for a class D felony is one day up to four (4) years incarceration and/or fine not to exceed $5000. Since the Defendant pleaded guilty as a prior and persistent felony offender that increased the range of punishment of the class B felony charge up to 30 years, or life, class C felony charges up to 15 years incarceration and the class D charges up to 7 years incarceration.

Per the terms of the plea agreement, Natausha Grady received a total of 14 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Grady received 14 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on the charges of Trafficking in Stolen Identities, Forgery, Stealing, and Receiving Stolen Property. Grady received 7 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on the charge of Fraudulent use of Credit Device. Grady received a sentence of one year on all the misdemeanor counts. All counts are to run concurrently to each other.

The State dismissed a misdemeanor count of attempted stealing and a case of driving while suspended as part of the plea agreement. Grady’s prior felony convictions making her a prior and persistent felony offender are for similar property-related crimes, including forgery, stealing, and fraudulent use of a credit device, for events that occurred in 2001, 2002, and 2003.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Anna Bunch. The cases were investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Christian County Sheriff’s Department, Nixa Police Department, Ozark Police Department, and Springfield Police Department. The lead officers were Zach Hamilton formerly with the Christian County Sheriff’s Dept. and now with Ozark PD, Detective Billy Miller with Nixa PD, Lt. Kevin Boyce with Ozark PD, and Detective Matt Farmer with Springfield PD.

FOR MORE INFORMATION DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE

Ozark, MO – Christian County Prosecuting Attorney Amy J. Fite appeared on Fox News Channel 2 in St. Louis to comment about the Grand Jury’s decision in the Michael Brown-Darren Wilson case. Click on the link below watch the interview.

Watch the Interview

Ozark, MO – Christian County Prosecuting Attorney, Amy Fite was honored as one of the “20 Most Influential Women” by the Springfield Business Journal. Each year, 20 women in southwest Missouri are honored for improving the business, civic and philanthropic communities. The award recognizes the leadership, influence and civic involvement of women in the community. She accepted the award at the luncheon at the University Plaza on October 10, 2014.

FOR MORE INFORMATION DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE

OZARK, MO – Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Kristen Tuohy was recently honored as one of three recipients of the Lon O. Hocker Award by the Missouri Bar Association, held on September 10, 2014 in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Lon O. Hocker Award was established by Mary B. Hocker in 1954 in memory of her late husband, an outstanding St. Louis trial lawyer. The Missouri Bar Association makes the awards annually to young lawyers who have demonstrated unusual proficiency in the art of trial advocacy.

Kristen Tuohy is currently serving as First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney with the Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Missouri in 1999 and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law in 2003. Upon graduating from law school, she worked as an assistant public defender in the Carthage Trial Office for three years. From there, she went on to serve as an assistant prosecutor for the Newton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, where she handled the associate circuit court docket. In 2007, she moved to Springfield, where she served as an assistant attorney general in the financial services division.

Prior to joining the Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in 2012, Tuohy served as an assistant prosecutor with the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for more than four years. She began in the General Crimes Unit before being promoted to senior assistant prosecuting attorney in the Major Crimes Unit, where she primarily handled serious drug offenses. She was a POST-certified Instructor at the Springfield Police Academy, instructing on the topic of search and seizure without a warrant.

Tuohy has significant trial experience defending and prosecuting a wide variety of criminal charges. In addition to her official duties, she serves on the CASP (Community Alternative Sentencing Program) board and instructs local law enforcement agencies in a variety of topics. When she is not working, Tuohy is very involved in the sport of reining horses and competes at the local and national level.

FOR MORE INFORMATION DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE

Ozark, MO – The Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (MAPA) awarded Prosecutor Amy Fite the 2014 Family Violence Hero of the Year award. She accepted this award on August 27, 2014 at Tan-Tar-A Lodge during the MAPA fall conference.   This award is given to recognize a prosecutor, law enforcement officer, victims’ services representative, or other allied professional who has displayed extraordinary dedication to victim well-being and safety and perpetrator accountability as demonstrated by one or more of the following:

•  Work on a specific case:  A high profile or complicated case requiring the nominee to go above and beyond the normal bounds of his or her responsibilities.

•  Training:  A demonstrated dedication to the training of prosecutors, law enforcement officers, or the public on issues related to child abuse, domestic violence or sexual violence.

•  Legal or legislative developments:  Work on a new or significant issues related to child abuse, domestic violence or sexual violence.

•  Victim services:  An extraordinary focus on victim services and advocacy for victim’s rights.

•  Career achievement:  A general demonstration of interest in, work on and dedication to child abuse, domestic violence and sexual violence issues.

FOR MORE INFORMATION DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE