FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  TIMOTHY J. MCDONALD
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
(417) 581-7915

DATE: February 24, 2020

RE: Gino McKinnie Found Guilty of Robbery, Assault First Degree and Armed Criminal Action

OZARK, MO – Christian County Prosecuting Attorney Amy J. Fite announced today that GINO MCKINNIE of Ozark, Missouri was found guilty on February 20, 2020, by the Honorable Judge Jennifer Growcock following a bench trial heard on December 2, 2019.  The defendant was found guilty of all counts charged – one count of robbery in the first degree (class A felony), two counts of assault first in the first degree (class B felony) and three counts of armed criminal action (unclassified felony).

On November 23, 2016, the defendant entered unlawfully into an apartment at 2447 W. Petrus Circle, Ozark Missouri, where two victims were sleeping.  Once inside he hid downstairs until a third victim came home.  The defendant, wearing black gloves and a hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled around his face, pointed a revolver at this victim and demanded money before striking the victim in the head with the pistol.  The defendant then forced the three victims into an upstairs bedroom where he spun the cylinder on the revolver, pointed the gun at one of the victims and pulled the trigger.  The defendant left the apartment after taking approximately $150 in cash.

Detective Anthony Appleton interviewed the victims and they identified the defendant as having committed the robbery.  He was arrested later that day.  During a search of the defendant’s residence and vehicle Detective Appleton found black rubber gloves and a hooded sweatshirt that matched those used during the robbery.  Cell phone records established that the defendant’s cell phone was in the area of the apartment at the time of the robbery.

Sentencing is set for June 4, 2020.  The range of punishment for robbery in the first degree is a term of incarceration of 10-30 years or life in the Missouri Department of Corrections.  The range of punishment for the class B felony of assault in the first degree is a term of incarceration of 5-15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.  The range of punishment for armed criminal action is a term of incarceration of at least three years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

This case was investigated by the Ozark Police Department with Detective Appleton leading the investigation.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Tim McDonald.