OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that on April 15, 2015, Michele Montiel, D.O.B. 6-23-1977, was found guilty by a Christian County jury of the class C felony of assault in the second degree and class D felony of leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident. The jury trial commenced before the Honorable Laura Johnson on April 13, 2015 and concluded on April 15, 2015.

The jury deliberated approximately 3 ½ hours before reaching its verdicts. The defendant found guilty for offenses involving an October 21, 2011 crash that critically injured a man and his horse while riding near FF Highway and Blue Springs Road in Christian County, Missouri.

Sentencing is set before the Honorable Laura Johnson on June 16, 2015 at 1:30 P.M.

The range in punishment for a class C felony is one day up to 7 years incarceration and/or a fine not to exceed $5,000. The range in punishment for a class D felony is one day up to four years incarceration and/or a fine not to exceed $5,000.

The investigation of this case was handled by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The case was prosecuted by First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kristen M. Tuohy.

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OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that on April 10, 2015, JULIE M. HORSTMYER DOB: 9/9/1982 formerly of Republic, MO, was sentenced by Special Judge Michael Cordonnier to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after having pled guilty on March 6, 2015, to the class C felony of endangering the welfare of a child first degree pursuant to a plea agreement. Seven years is the maximum term of imprisonment for a class C felony.

On November 5, 2011, Julie Horstmyer called 911 shortly after 8:00 a.m., after another adult in the residence where she was staying found Horstmyer’s two-year-old daughter non-responsive and cold to touch in a pack and play. Emergency personnel responded to the residence in Clever, Missouri and the two-year old was pronounced dead at the scene. The pathologist found the child died as a result of sertraline (Zoloft) in her system. Horstmyer pled guilty to endangering the welfare of a child first degree by knowingly creating a grave risk to the life, body or health of the child by failing to seek medical treatment for the child after the child ingested sertraline (Zoloft).

Endangering the welfare of a child 1st degree is a class C felony. The range of punishment is 1 day to 1 year in the Christian County Jail or two years to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and/or a fine up to $5000.

This case was investigated by the Christian County Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution was handled by Prosecuting Attorney Amy Fite

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The Missouri Victim Assistance Network (MOVA) awarded the James P. Damose Award to Prosecutor Amy Fite at the MOVA Conference on March 26, 2015 in Springfield, Missouri. This award is to honor professionals in the fields of law enforcement, social services, and the judicial system. This award is presented to an individual who has made a significant difference to victims and/or victim services above and beyond their designated responsibilities.