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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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CARES Act funding awarded for temporary APA’s and Investigators, APA’s sworn in
Beginning in August the CCPA was able to hire three veteran Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys, Rachel Smith, Dwight Scroggins, and Joe Schoeberl and two experienced investigators, Kevin Holle and Justin Varner. The final member of the CARES ACT Team started on September 9, 2020. The team will serve through December 2020. While here they will be focused on assisting in addressing the caseload backlog created as a result of the pandemic.
Brittany Scrivener Sentenced to 20 years in Missouri Department of Corrections for July 2018 Car Chase and Assault Against Police Officer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Amy Fite
Prosecuting Attorney
(417) 581-7915
DATE: August 24, 2020
RE: Brittany Scrivener Sentenced to 20 years in Missouri Department of Corrections for July 2018 Car Chase and Assault Against Police Officer
OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that Brittany Scrivener dob: xx/xx/1991 formerly of Springfield, Missouri was convicted of Unlawful Use of a Weapon Shooting from a Motor Vehicle, Assault 2nd Degree (3 counts), Armed Criminal Action (3 counts), Possession of Methamphetamine, Resisting Arrest by Flight and Driving While Under the Influence of Controlled Substance for crimes committed on July 8, 2018.
On August 24, 2020, Judge Laura Johnson formally sentenced Ms. Scrivener to twenty years in prison. Ms. Scrivener plead guilty to all crimes charged as a part of a plea agreement with the Christian County Prosecutor’s Office on August 17, 2020. The Defendant admitted to leading officers on a high-speed police chase throughout Christian County on July 9, 2018. In Court, she agreed that during the pursuit, she fired multiple shots at three different officers. No private citizens, officers or police vehicles were hit by the shots fired. The defendant admitted that during the high-speed pursuit, she possessed methamphetamine and was under its influence while driving the car.
Nixa Police Department handled the investigation of this case. Christian County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri Highway Patrol assisted Nixa Police Department in apprehending Ms. Scrivener and in ending the pursuit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Rachel Smith. The team assigned to this case included: Victim Advocate Julie Harlan, Legal Assistant Libby Deroche, and Investigator Kevin Holle.