OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that Oscar L. Howell , dob: 3/11/1976 of Ozark, Missouri was found guilty after a jury trial presided over by the Honorable Judge Mark Orr on April 29-30, 2013, of domestic assault in the third degree and unlawful use of a weapon.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Janette Bleau represented the State of Missouri. Evidence presented by the State included:

On July 8, 2011, Deputy J. Lofton of the Christian County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched to a residence in Christian County, Missouri. The victim, who was in an ongoing relationship and had children in common with Howell, testified she and Howell were in an argument when he arrived at her home in the early morning hours. She stated Howell had choked her, threatened her with a knife and a gun. She also stated Howell had threatened suicide and cut his own face. Howell had fled the home prior to the Deputy’s arrival. Howell was found walking on W Highway, approximately a mile and a half from the residence, a few hours later by Trooper Smith. Trooper Smith transported Howell to the Christian County Jail where Deputy Lofton spoke with Howell after reading Miranda rights to him. Howell indicated he had been at the home that morning and that he and the victim argued. Howell admitted to threatening suicide. Deputy Lofton noticed cut marks to Howell’s face.

Further, the Court found the defendant to be a prior and persistent felony offender based on the following:

That on or about the 18th day of June, 2010 defendant pled guilty in the Circuit Court of Christian County, Case No. 08N8-CR00834-01 to assault in the second degree, and

That on or about 10th day of April, 1996, defendant pled in the Circuit Court of Greene County, Case No. 31495CF1511, to robbery in the first degree.

Range of punishment for domestic assault in the third degree is: one day to one year in the Christian County Jail and/or a fine up to $1000.

As a prior and persistent offender the range of punishment for unlawful use of a weapon is: one year in the Christian County Jail or two to seven years in the Department of Corrections and/or up to a $5000 fine.

Sentencing is set for June 21, 2013.

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OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced today that on April 5, 2013 Mark E. Womack, Jr.; dob: 5-22-1966 formerly of Republic, Missouri was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Mark Orr to a total of twenty-five (25) years in the Department of Corrections. On December 14, 2012, the defendant had pled guilty in front of the Honorable Judge Orr to 6 felony counts including one count of statutory sodomy in the first degree of a child less than 14 and to five counts of child molestation first degree for offenses occurring between March 1, 2008 and September 1, 2010. Judge Orr sentenced defendant to twenty-five years on the statutory sodomy first degree and to fifteen years on each of the child molestation counts with all counts to run concurrent.
Defendant is awaiting sentencing in Greene County in case number 1131-CR06232-01 having pled guilty on 2/22/2013 to two counts of child molestation first degree, one count of statutory sodomy first degree child less than 14 and two counts of statutory sodomy second Degree.
The range of punishment for statutory sodomy in the first degree of a child less than 14 is life imprisonment or a term of years not less than five years. This is a charge that requires a defendant serve 85% of the sentence before being eligible for parole. The range of punishment for child molestation first degree is 5 years to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

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Ozark, MO – Christian County – Prosecuting Attorney Amy Fite announces that on Monday February 4, 2013 Joseph Flees joined the Prosecuting Attorney’s office as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. Joe received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from University of Missouri in 2002 and his Juris Doctorate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in 2008. Prior to joining the Christian County Prosecutor’s Office, Joe served as a Senior Trial Counsel for the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corp where he prosecuted violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Joe also served as Defense Counsel for the U.S. Army Trial Defense Service and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana.
Mr. Flees in his current duties will carry a felony case load that will primarily include child pornography and sexually related cases. He was hired to fill a current vacancy in the office due to Assistant Prosecutor Donovan Dobbs transitioning to a part time position.

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Ozark, MO – Christian County Prosecuting Attorney, Amy J. Fite is very pleased to announce that for the second year in a row the office has come in under budget. In fact, the total expenditure from the general revenue fund after grant reimbursement for 2012 was $644,935.93 and this was less than the general revenue expenditure in 2011. With both 2011 and 2012 general revenue expenditures being around $50,000 less than the 2010 expenditure of $701,100.62

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Ozark, MO – Christian County Prosecuting Attorney, Amy J. Fite announced today that JEFFERY DENTON, dob: 11/22/1967 of Conway, Missouri was sentenced to six years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the class C felony of stealing and six years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the class C felony of passing a bad check. A jury found him guilty of both counts on October 23, 2012. The jury had recommended that Denton be sentenced to six years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on each count. The Honorable Mark Orr ordered that the sentences for each count were to run consecutive to each other.

JEFFERY DENTON was found guilty of giving a check on a closed account to purchase a home in Nixa on September 7, 2007. The account had been closed since 2005. Denton then remained in the home without paying anything until March of 2008. The owner of the home testified that Mr. Denton kept giving different deadlines as to when he would make payments but that each deadline passed without payment.

DENTON has been convicted of two felony charges for passing a bad check.   He currently is on probation for passing a bad check out of Barry County.  Further, Denton currently faces a felony charge for passing a bad check in Greene County.

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