OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that on January 22,2016, Jeffery S. King, dob: 10/25/1971, pleaded guilty to a 2013 burglary in front of the Honorable Judge Laura Johnson.

King pleaded guilty to the class B felony of first-degree burglary, two counts of the class C felony of second-degree assault, armed criminal action, and misdemeanor property damage for an event that occurred on July 12,2013.

A male had broken into a residence on Burk Road in Highlandville, and assaulted two individuals. He then broke a picture window on his way out of the residence. Blood on a bandage was found outside the home. After a DNA analysis, including a Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) hit and subsequent reference sample comparison, Jeffery S. King was determined to be the male.

Pursuant to a plea agreement, King received sentences of 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on the first-degree burglary and second-degree assault. He received a five (5) year sentence on the armed criminal action count, and 180 days on the property damage count. All sentences to run concurrent to each other.

He pleaded guilty as a prior and persistent felony offender. King had prior convictions for burglary out of the St. Louis area.

The range of punishment for a class B felony is five (5) to fifteen (15) years incarceration. The range of punishment for a class C felony is one day up to seven (7) years incarceration and/or a fine not to exceed $5000. Since the Defendant pleaded guilty as a prior and persistent felony offender that increased the range of punishment of the class B felony charge up to 30 years, or life, and class C felony charges up to
15 years incarceration.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Anna Bunch. The case was investigated by the Christian County Sheriff’s Department, and the DNA analysis was conducted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol crime lab in Springfield, Missouri.

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OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that on January 15, 2016, Jason Stepp, dob:  03/02/1984 pleaded guilty to a pending case and admitted to violating his probation on two prior cases in front of the Honorable Judge Laura Johnson.

Stepp pleaded guilty to first-degree burlary and possession of controlled substance for events that occurred on May 20-21, 2015. Stepp had broken into a residence on Citydel Road in Nixa, and was later found to be in possession of methamphetamine. He pleaded guilty as a prior and persistent felony offender, as well as a prior and persistent drug offender. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Stepp received sentences of 10 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on each count, said sentences to run concurrently.

Stepp also admitted to violating the terms of his probation on two prior cases, and his previous sentences of 7 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections were executed. On his prior cases, Stepp had pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

The cases were handled by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Anna Bunch. The cases were investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Christian County Sheriff’s Department, Combined Ozarks Multi-Jurisdictional Enforcement Team Task Force (COMET), and Nixa Police Department.

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Shannon Stephens, Victim Advocate in the Christian County Prosecutor’s Office, has received the President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award.  The award is given by President Obama and the Corporation for Nation and Community Service and includes a letter signed by President Obama, a certificate and a gold President’s Volunteer Service Award Pin.

Shannon was nominated by The Victim’s Center, in appreciation for her service in 2014. During that year, Shannon volunteered 777.75 hours at The Victim’s Center, assisting numerous families and victims of violent and sexual crimes.

Congratulations, Shannon!

Christian County Prosecuting Attorney, Amy J. Fite presented the 2015 Annual Report to members of the Christian County Commission on December 31, 2015. Missouri Law requires that an annual report be prepared and filed with the County Commission once a year.

To review the 2015 annual report presented to the Commission please click the link below:

2015 Annual Report

The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that on November 24, 2015, Joshua Alton Cummings, DOB: 01/31/1982, was sentenced to 12 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections by the Honorable Laura Johnson after the Court determined that Cummings violated the terms of his probation.

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