JESSICA GOODWIN RECEIVES 14 YEARS FOR HER INVOLVEMENT IN DAYCARE THEFTS
On July 6, 2017, Jessica Goodwin, age 30, was sentenced for five separate felony cases by the Honorable Laura Johnson, Presiding Circuit Judge for Christian County. She was convicted on five class C felonies for identity theft, four class C felonies for forgery, one Class C felony for property damage in the first degree, one class C felony for receiving stolen property, and one class C felony for possession of controlled substance. She received the maximum sentence of seven (7) years sentence on each count in the Department of Corrections with some sentences run consecutively and other concurrently for a total sentence of fourteen (14) years in the Department of Corrections. The Court entered restitution judgments to the victims. The defendant was sentenced to the long-term substance abuse program under Section 217.362 RSMo. There were five separate victims of the defendant.
Goodwin was involved with other co-defendants in crimes from November 18, 2016 through December 14, 2016. The defendants broke into motor vehicles at daycares in Ozark and Nixa. This occurred as parents were dropping off or picking up their children. The defendants stole purses and wallets. The defendants then immediately attempted to use credit cards from the purses and wallets at various retail stores with the victims’ identity. The defendants broke into both locked and unlocked vehicles.
The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant Christian County Prosecuting Attorney John L. Young. These crimes were investigated by the Christian County Sheriff’s Office, the Ozark Police Department, and the Nixa Police Department.
MICHAEL BURGESS FOUND GUILTY OF UNLAWFUL USE OF WEAPON
Michael Burgess, age 40 from Springfield, Mo, was found guilty of the Class D felony for unlawful use of a weapon following a day and half bench trial heard by the Honorable Laura Johnson, Presiding Circuit Judge for Christian County, Missouri. A sentence assessment report has been ordered with sentencing set for June 8, 2017.
According the testimony, the defendant drew his firearm and pointed at his ex-wife and her family on his ex-wife’s property. The defendant threatened to blow their heads off. The defendant and victims were outside the front door and porch of the ex-wife’s residence.
The case was prosecuted by John L. Young, Senior Assistant Christian County Prosecuting Attorney. The case was investigated by the Christian County Sheriff Office with assistance from the Ozark Police Department.
JOHN YOUNG SR. APA COMPLETES TRAINING AT THE NATIONAL COMPUTER FORENSICS INSTITUTE
From May 1 through May 5, 2017, John L. Young, Senior Assistant Prosecuting for Christian County completed training at the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI) in Hoover, Alabama. The NCFI is a partnership between the United States Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security, and the Alabama District Attorney’s Association to train state and local law enforcement, judges and prosecutors in computer forensics and digital evidence. Mr. Young was one of a select group of prosecutors that came from all over the United States. Those that attend do so at no cost to the local jurisdiction.
The five-day course provides hands-on experience to allow prosecutors to obtain knowledge and insight into handling criminal cases with digital evidence. The training teaches prosecutors how the computer forensics process is completed by investigators and how to better evaluate and present computer crimes cases.
The in-court exercises dealt with a fictional case that involved fraudulent computer access, identity theft, and forgery of documents, which will equip to him in successfully handling his caseload including property and financial crimes.
In our age of technology, various offenses are committed, documented or aided using a computer or electronic device. Citizens face the possibility of having his or her electronically stored information hacked and becoming victims of identity theft and or the loss confidential information. Prosecutors and law enforcement must seek training to equip them with the knowledge necessary to effectively pursue justice.
MC WORTHON JR. SENTENCED FOR PURSE SNATCHING AND ROBBERY
On May 11, 2017, Honorable Laura Johnson sentenced MC Worthon Jr, 26 of age from Springfield, Mo, to the maximum sentence of 7 years in the Department of Corrections for attempted robbery in the second degree and 90 days in the County Jail for assault in the third degree. The defendant had pled guilty for events on November 7, 2016 when he followed the female victim in the Nixa Wal-Mart parking lot to her parked vehicle. He assaulted her as she was attempting to place her items in her vehicle. The defendant was attempting to steal her purse and flee with the assistance of his co-defendant in their nearby vehicle.
The case was investigated by the Nixa Police Department. John L. Young, Senior Christian County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney prosecuted the case.
ROY TARVIN SENTENCED
OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that on April 28, 2017, Roy Tarvin DOB: 12/17/1976 of Butler, MO, was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Jennifer Growcock.
Tarvin previously had pled guilty on February 24, 2017, to two counts, count I – endangering the welfare of a child (sexual conduct) and count II – sexual contact with a student. This occurred in Christian County, Missouri between October 31, 2014 and November 20, 2014.
The defendant pled pursuant to a plea agreement. Per the terms of the plea agreement the defendant received a seven (7) year sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections on count I and a four (4) year sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections on count II. Count I and Count II to run concurrent to one another.
At sentencing, the State requested the Court sentence the defendant to the Missouri Department of Corrections. Defendant through counsel requested the Court place Defendant on probation.
The Court sentenced Tarvin to seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections pursuant to §559.115, Sex Offender Assessment Unit on Count I. The Court sentenced Tarvin to four (4) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections pursuant to §559.115, Sex Offender Assessment Unit on Count II. Count I and II to run concurrent.
The Sex Offender Assessment Unit is an intensive assessment program for sex offenders that provides a complete psychological assessment to determine an offender’s extent of psychopathology, risk to reoffend and amenability to treatment. It also offers basic relapse prevention education. The Sex Offender Assessment Unit is normally 120 days in the Mo. Department of Corrections. After the assessment is completed, the Court will be given a recommendation, and the Court will then determine whether probation should be granted.
Endangering the Welfare of a Child (sexual conduct) is a class C felony. The range of punishment for a class C felony is a term of incarceration not to exceed seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and/or a fine not to exceed $5000. Sexual Contact with a Student is a class D felony. The range of punishment for a class D felony is a term of incarceration not to exceed four (4) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and/or a fine not to exceed $5000.
This case was investigated by the Christian County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Prosecuting Attorney Amy Fite.