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JANETTE BLEAU RECEIVES WOMEN’S JUSTICE AWARD
On April 14, 2016, First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Janette Bleau received a Women’s Justice Award as a Public Official. This award serves to recognize Janette’s dedication to seeking and serving justice for the victims of crime in Christian County. Her efforts and experience are invaluable to this office and community.
Also honored was Lara Webb Fors, director of the Springfield Regional Prosecutor’s Child Support Office. Lara’s office is responsible for assisting parents in Southwest Missouri (including Christian County) in getting back on track for their children.
Congratulations, Janette and Lara!
VICTIM’S MEMORIAL GARDEN CEREMONY
Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office honored and recognized Edith Burk and her daughters and Charlie Rickard and his beloved horse Poco during the Victim Memorial Garden ceremony on April 11, 2016. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Anna Bunch prosecuted the case against the offender that attacked Edith Burk and her daughter. Ms. Bunch spoke regarding the dedication of the brick to recognize 95 year old Edith Burk for her spirit and compassion. First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Tuohy successfully tried the offender who drove recklessly, hitting and seriously injuring Charlie Rickard while he was riding his beloved horse Poco. The offender then fled the scene leaving Mr. Rickard in a ditch requiring immediate medical assistance and Poco to suffer a painful death. Ms. Tuohy dedicated a brick to honor Mr. Rickard and his beloved horse Poco.
The employees of the Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office are very grateful to have the opportunity to participate in the Victim Garden Memorial Ceremony and dedicate bricks each year to individuals whose lives have been dramatically impacted by crime. It is a beautiful setting for a family member to be remembered or a survivor honored. This ceremony takes place during National Crime Victim’s Week (April 10, 2016 – April 16, 2016). In addition to participating in this event, the Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office sponsors a poster contest each year for 5th grade students to show their support for those that are hurting. This year, the courthouse was filled with 352 posters from 5th graders across Christian County. We do this so the many victims of crime can see the support and outpouring of the community. This is especially meaningful for a child victim to be able to see other children supporting him or her.
COLTON HOVEY FOUND GUILTY OF STEALING AND TRESPASS
OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces today that
Colton Hovey, dob: 3/31/1995 of Ozark, Missouri was found guilty of both counts: stealing and trespass, after a jury trial in front of the Honorable Judge Doug Bacon on March 24, 2016.
The jury deliberated approximately 25 minutes before reaching its verdict. Hovey was found guilty for an incident that occurred on December 26,2014 in the W. McGuffey and N. 10th Street area in Ozark, Missouri.
Evidence adduced at trial included that the defendant was observed taking mail out of mailboxes. When law enforcement arrived, the defendant hid behind a tree and then ran. The defendant was observed by an officer hopping over a fence from the backyard of a residence. Officers found mail to a resident in the area that had fallen out of the defendant’s jacket.
Formal sentencing is set for May 4,2016. The jury recommended a punishment of six (6)
months in the Christian County Jail and a fine on the stealing count and a fine on the trespass count.
FOUR CONSECUTIVE LIFE SENTENCES FOR BRIAN WILLIAMS
OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that on March, 23, 2016, BRIAN DANE WILLIAMS – DOB: 8-1-1989 formerly of Sparta, MO, appeared in front of Special Judge Calvin Holden and pleaded guilty as a prior and persistent felony offender to four counts of murder in the first degree, four counts of armed criminal action, one count of tampering with a motor vehicle and one count of stealing a firearm. Pursuant to the terms of a plea agreement, Williams was sentenced to a life sentence without the possibility of probation or parole in the Missouri Department of Corrections on each of the charges of murder in the first degree, five (5) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for each of the armed criminal action charges, fifteen (15) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the tampering with a motor vehicle charge and fifteen (15) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the stealing a firearm charge. The four life sentences run consecutively for a total sentence of four (4) consecutive life sentences without the possibility of probation or parole. The other counts are to be served concurrently.
JEFFERY KING PLEADS GUILTY TO 2013 BURGLARY
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.