CHRISTIAN COUNTY JURY FINDS MARK ADAM PEIRANO GUILTY OF STATUTORY SODOMY FIRST DEGREE OF A CHILD LESS THAN TWELVE AND FIVE COUNTS OF CHILD MOLESTATION IN THE FIRST DEGREE
OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that MARK ADAM PEIRANO dob: 07/24/1972 formerly of Spokane Missouri was found guilty on August 25, 2016 by a Christian County jury of one count of statutory sodomy in the first degree of a child less than twelve and five counts of child molestation in the first degree A jury trial was commenced before the Honorable Judge Eric Eighmy on August 22, 2016 and concluded on August 25, 2016.
The jury deliberated for over an hour before finding the defendant guilty of all counts charged. During the course of the trial the jury had heard evidence regarding prior sexual offenses committed by the defendant. After finding the defendant guilty, the jury was asked to deliberate for a second time to determine whether or not the defendant was a predatory sexual offender. The jury found defendant to be a predatory sexual offender.
Formal sentencing is scheduled before the Honorable Eric Eighmy on December 19, 2016 at 1:00 p.m.
The range of punishment statutory sodomy in the first degree of a child less than twelve and child molestation in the first degree when the offender has been found to be a predatory sexual offender is a life sentence with eligibility for parole. The number of years the offender must serve prior to being eligible for parole is determined by the court and must be a number of years within the range to which the person could have been sentenced if not found to be a predatory sexual offender. Pursuant to current statute the range of punishment for statutory sodomy in the first degree of a child less than twelve is a term of years not less than ten or life. The range of punishment for child molestation in the first degree class B felony is five years to fifteen years. Pursuant to current statute an offender found to be a predatory sexual offender shall not receive a final discharge from parole.
The investigation of this case was handled by Sgt. Shayne Duryea of the Christian County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Prosecuting Attorney Amy Fite with First Assistant Kristen Tuohy assisting during the jury trial.
NEW SR. ASSISTANT PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
John Young joined the Christian County Prosecutor’s Office in August of 2016. John received his undergraduate degree in 1986 from Missouri State University majoring in Political Science and a minor in history. He received his Juris Doctorate from University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law in 1989.