FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
JANETTE BLEAU
417-581-7915

DATE: MAY 9, 2018

RE: ZEBANIAH BLANKENSHIP PLEADS GUILTY TO ELDER ABUSE IN THE SECOND DEGREE AND DOMESTIC ASSAULT IN THE SECOND DEGREE.

OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces Zebaniah Blankenship pled guilty on April 26, 2018 to elder abuse in the second degree, a class B felony and domestic assault in the second degree, a class C felony. He received a nine (9) year sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections on each count to run concurrent to one another.

The incident occurred on October 25, 2016 at the victim’s home. Blankenship struck a family member who was over the age of sixty in the face with his hand and a piece of plastic lawn furniture thereby fracturing the victim’s nose. 911 was called by a neighbor and Blankenship fled from the scene. Officers from the Ozark Police Department arrived and the victim was transported to the hospital by ambulance.

Blankenship is a persistent felony offender in that he has prior felony convictions for forgery, distribution of a controlled substance and possession of controlled substance.

The case was prosecuted by First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Janette Bleau. The Ozark Police Department and the Division of Health and Senior Services investigated the crime.

A copy of this press release may be found here.