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Yearly Archives: 2020
Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Annual Report
The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has released its annual report.
CARL C. FERGUSON FOUND GUILTY OF STATUTORY RAPE IN THE FIRST DEGREE OF A CHILD LESS THAN TWELVE-YEARS-OLD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Kristen Tuohy, 1st APA
Shana Mora. Sr. APA
417-581-7915
DATE: November 23, 2020
RE: CARL C. FERGUSON FOUND GUILTY OF STATUTORY RAPE IN THE FIRST DEGREE OF A CHILD LESS THAN TWELVE-YEARS-OLD.
OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that on November 20, 2020, Carl C. Ferguson, was found guilty of statutory rape in the first degree of a child less than twelve-years-old by a Christian County jury. The Honorable Judge Jennifer Growcock presided over the trial that began on November 16th, 2020. The defendant is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on February 3, 2021 at 1:30 P.M.
The case was prosecuted by Christian County Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Kristen M. Tuohy and Shana Mora, Shannon Stephens served as Victim Advocate. The Ozark Police Department investigated the crime.
GARY WYATT HICKS SENTENCED TO 330 YEARS MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR CHILD MOLESTATION IN THE FIRST DEGREE AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Kristen Tuohy
417-581-7915
DATE: November 6, 2020
RE: GARY WYATT HICKS SENTENCED TO 330 YEARS MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR CHILD MOLESTATION IN THE FIRST DEGREE AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A MINOR.
OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that on November 6, 2020, Gary Wyatt Hicks, was sentenced to 330 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on three counts of child molestation in the first degree and eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor for events occurring on or before December 1, 2018. The Honorable Judge Jennifer Growcock presided over the sentencing hearing. Defendant’s plea agreement called for a 30-year cap in the Missouri Department of Corrections on each count with the State seeking consecutive sentences on the three counts of child molestation in the first degree and the eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor for total sentence of 330 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
The case was prosecuted by Christian County First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kristen M. Tuohy, Shannon Stephens served as Victim Advocate. The Billings Police Department and Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force investigated the crime.
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October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which first began in 1981 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a Day of Unity. Domestic violence affects millions, both women and men, of every race, religion, culture and status.
Kayla Fowler sentenced to ten years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on tampering 1st degree and resisting arrest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Amy Fite
Prosecuting Attorney
(417) 581-7915
DATE: September 15, 2020
RE: Kayla Fowler sentenced to ten years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on tampering 1st degree and resisting arrest
OZARK, MO – Christian County Prosecuting Attorney Amy J. Fite announced today that KAYLA FOWLER formerly of Stockton, Missouri was sentenced on September 11, 2020 after she was found guilty on July 15, 2020 following a jury trial of tampering in the first degree and resisting arrest. The Honorable Laura Johnson presided over the jury trial that commenced on July 13, 2020. The Honorable Laura Johnson sentenced the defendant on September 11, 2020. A jury unanimously found the defendant guilty of the class D felony of tampering in the first degree and the class E felony of resisting arrest.
The Court had previously found defendant to be a prior and persistent offender. As such the range of punishment for the tampering 1st degree was that of a C felony – three to ten years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and/or a fine not to exceed $10,000. The range of punishment for the resisting arrest was that of a D felony – 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 not to exceed $10,000.
The Honorable Laura Johnson sentenced FOWLER to the maximum prison term of TEN (10) YEARS in the Missouri Department of Corrections on the tampering 1st degree and maximum prison term of SEVEN (7) YEARS in the Missouri Department of Correction on resisting arrest. The sentences to be served concurrently for a total sentence of TEN (10) YEARS in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
The evidence offered during the jury trial included that on January 8, 2020, FOWLER fled in a stolen vehicle from officers attempting to stop the defendant, who at the time was a suspect in a theft in Republic, Mo. The defendant led multiple law enforcement agencies on a pursuit from Greene County to Christian County. In attempting to evade officers, the defendant operated the vehicle at a high rate of speed, drove into oncoming traffic, passed vehicles, and almost struck a marked patrol vehicle. To protect the lives and safety of the public, law enforcement ultimately employed the Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI) or “pit maneuver” to disable the vehicle and bring the chase to an end. The evidence included that the black Ford F250 operated by defendant had been stolen in Kansas City earlier in the year. The owner of the vehicle testified he had not given the defendant permission to operate his vehicle.
This case was investigated by the Christian County Sheriff Office. The case was prosecuted at jury trial by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Tim McDonald. Mr. McDonald was assisted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Scottie Bowden, Victim Advocate Julie Harlan and Legal Assistant Kara Wishin. Prosecuting Attorney, Amy Fite, handled the sentencing.
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