FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Kristen Tuohy, 1^st APA
Shana Mora. Sr. APA
417-581-7915

DATE: December 28, 2021

JAMES NORMAN HARPER SENTENCED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT IN CHILD MOLESTATION CASE, JUDGE SETS MINIMUM TERM BEFORE ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE AT 300 YEARS

OZARK, MO – Christian County Prosecuting Attorney Amy Fite announces that on December 22, 2021, James Norman Harper was sentenced to life imprisonment for the child molestation of a five-year-old child.

On August 11, 2021, James Norman Harper (40) was found guilty of child molestation in the second degree by a Christian County jury. At trial, the defendant’s neighbor testified that she was babysitting the defendant’s five-year-old stepson when she observed the child sexually acting out. The child later disclosed to the neighbor, “Daddy does this to me” and “I don’t like it.”  The neighbor later made a hotline call.  In response to that hotline call, the Division of Children’s Services and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office responded to investigate.  The child was forensically interviewed the following day at the Child Advocacy Center in Springfield, Mo.

Before the sentencing hearing, the Honorable Judge Laura Johnson found the defendant to be a predatory sex offender under Missouri Revised Statute 566.125. Under this statute, a person with certain prior convictions for sexual offenses can become eligible for an extended term of imprisonment. Judge Johnson found that the defendant had a previous felony conviction for child molestation in the first degree for a 1998 offense involving another five-year-old child. Based on this prior conviction and his current finding of guilt by a Christian County jury, as a predatory sexual offender the defendant was sentenced to a life sentence as required by 566.125 RSMo.

Additionally, per 566.125 RSMo the minimum term a defendant must serve prior to becoming eligible for parole consideration is set by the sentencing judge.  Per this statute, based on defendant’s conviction, a judge may set this at any term of years not less than 15 years.

The Honorable Judge Johnson sentenced the defendant to serve a life sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections and set the minimum sentence he must serve before becoming eligible for parole consideration at three hundred years (300) for child molestation second degree.

Identifying and successfully prosecuting child abuse and sexual offenses against children requires citizens to report any child’s suspected sexual or physical abuse.  If you suspect child abuse or neglect, please call the Missouri Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline at 1-800-392-3738. 

The case was prosecuted by Christian County Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Shana Mora and First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Tuohy.  The rest of the team assigned to this case included Cathryn Ables, Victim Advocate, and Suzanne Frakes, Legal Assistant.  The Christian County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crime.  Sarah Spurlock was the lead investigator assigned to the case. The Christian County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Detective Jason Marcum from the Springfield Police Department.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Kristen Tuohy
Shana Mora
417-581-7915

DATE: August 26, 2021

RE:  BRADLEY J. BLEVINS FOUND GUILTY OF STATUTORY SODOMY IN THE FIRST DEGREE, ENTICEMENT OF A CHILD, ATTEMPTED ENTICEMENT OF A CHILD, AND SEXUAL MISCONDUCT INVOLVING A CHILD.

OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces on August 25, 2021, Bradley J. Blevins, was found guilty of two counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree of a child less than twelve-years-old, one count of enticement of a child, one count of attempted enticement of a child, and two counts of sexual misconduct involving a child following a bench trial that began on June 8, 2021. The Honorable Judge Jennifer Growcock presided over the trial. The defendant is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on October 28, 2021, at 2:30 P.M.

Many child sexual abuse cases are never reported to law enforcement. If you suspect a child needs help, make a report. The Children Division’s Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-392-3728.

The case was prosecuted by Christian County First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kristen M. Tuohy and Senior Prosecuting Attorney Shana Mora, Shannon Stephens served as Victim Advocate.  The Christian County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crime.    

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Kristen Tuohy, 1^st APA
Shana Mora. Sr. APA
417-581-7915

DATE: August 13, 2021

RE:  JAMES NORMAN HARPER FOUND GUILTY OF CHILD MOLESTATION SECOND DEGREE

OZARK, MO – Christian County Prosecuting Attorney Amy Fite announces that on August 11, 2021, James Norman Harper (40), was found guilty of child molestation in the second degree by a Christian County jury.   The jury deliberated a little over an hour before returning its verdict finding Harper guilty of child molestation in the second degree. 

The evidence presented at trial included that a neighbor of the defendant was babysitting the defendant’s five-year-old stepson.   The neighbor observed the child sexually acting out and the child disclosed to the neighbor “Daddy does this to me” and “I don’t like it.”  The neighbor later made a hotline call.  In response to that hotline call the Division of Children’s Services and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office responded to investigate.  The following day the child was forensically interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center in Springfield, Missouri.

To identify and successfully prosecute when children have been the victims of sexual offenses and/or physical abuse requires citizens to report suspected sexual or physical abuse of a child.  Suspected child abuse or neglect can be reported by calling the Missouri Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline at 1-800-392-3738. 

The Honorable Laura Johnson presided over the jury trial that began on August 9, 2021.  The defendant having been found to be a predatory sexual offender is subject to a life sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections.  The Honorable Laura Johnson set this matter for a sentencing hearing on October 12, 2021 at 3:00 p.m.

The case is being prosecuted by Christian County Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Shana Mora who was assisted by First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Tuohy.  The rest of the team assigned to this case included Cathryn Ables, Victim Advocate and Suzanne Frakes, Legal Assistant.  The Christian County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crime.  Sarah Spurlock was the lead investigator assigned to the case.    

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Kristen Tuohy
Shana Mora
417-581-7915

DATE: April 9, 2021

RE:  CARL C. FERGUSON SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR STATUTORY RAPE IN THE FIRST DEGREE OF A CHILD LESS THAN TWELVE YEARS OF AGE

OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that on April 2, 2021, Carl C. Ferguson, 41, of Ozark, Missouri was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the offense of statutory rape in the first degree of a child less than twelve-years-old following a jury trial that occurred November 16, 2020 through November 20, 2020. The rape occurred between July 1, 2015 and August 11, 2016. The Honorable Judge Jennifer Growcock presided over the trial and sentencing.

The authorized term of imprisonment for statutory rape in the first degree of a child less than twelve years of age is life imprisonment or a term of years not less than ten years.  
The case was prosecuted by Christian County Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Kristen M. Tuohy and Shana Mora.  Shannon Stephens served as Victim Advocate.  The Ozark Police Department investigated the crime.   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
Sue Boresi, Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
417-582-5198

DATE: MARCH 15, 2021

RE: MICHAEL BASHAM pleads guilty and receives 10 years for charges arising out of A BURGLARY AND ENSUING police pursuit in NOVEMBER, 2019

OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that Michael Basham dob: 04-03-1079, pleaded guilty to four counts in front of the Honorable Judge Jennifer Growcock on March 10, 2021.   Michael Basham pleaded guilty as a prior and persistent felony offender to Robbery first degree, a class A felony; Burglary second degree, a class D felony; Possession of a Controlled Substance, a class D felony and Resisting Arrest, a class E felony. 

The range of punishment for a class A felony is a term of imprisonment in the Missouri Department of Corrections for a term of not less than 10 years and not to exceed thirty years, or life imprisonment. Robbery in the first degree is classified as a dangerous felony. Basham will be required to serve eighty-five percent of the sentence before he can be considered for parole or other early discharge. The range of punishment for a class D felony is imprisonment for a term not to exceed seven years imprisonment, or by a fine not to exceed $10,000, or by both imprisonment and a fine. The range of punishment for a class E felony is imprisonment for a term of years not to exceed 4 years, or by a fine not to exceed $10,000, or by both imprisonment and a fine. Because the Defendant pleaded guilty as a prior and persistent felony offender, he faced an extended term of imprisonment for the next higher class of felony punishment.

Per the terms of the plea agreement, Basham received a total of 10 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Basham received 10 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on the charges of Robbery first degree and Burglary second degree, 4 years imprisonment on the charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance, and 5 years imprisonment on the charge of Resisting Arrest. All counts are to be served concurrent with each other.

At the time of the plea the State alleged the following facts could be proved beyond a reasonable doubt at trial:

On November 26, 2019, at 2:00 pm, a woman was arriving at her home at the 1900 block of W. Syler Rd in Nixa, Missouri. She saw the door to her garage, which is attached to the residence, was open. The door to the garage was closed and locked when she left the residence earlier in the day. An unfamiliar red pickup truck was parked in her driveway at the garage. She saw Basham, who was unknown to her, get into the driver’s side of the pickup.
   

The woman tried to block the truck in her driveway, but the truck drove around her. She began following the pickup driven by Basham, while calling 911. About two miles from her residence, Basham stopped the pickup, walked to the woman’s window and pointed what appeared to be a firearm at her. Basham told her he would shoot her if she did not stop following him.   

Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole located the red pickup described by the woman. Sheriff Cole activated lights and sirens on his vehicle in an attempt to stop Basham. Basham failed to stop. Sheriff Cole initiated a pursuit of the vehicle that was joined by other officers, and continued into Springfield. Basham fled at excessive speeds while weaving in and out of traffic. Basham stopped only after the use of a pursuit intervention tactic. Basham was then taken into custody.

Several items in the open truck bed were identified by the woman and her husband as having been taken from their home.  On the front seat of the truck driven by Basham, law enforcement officers seized a black CO2 pistol that resembled a Glock firearm. Basham admitted to threatening the woman with the gun because she was preventing him from leaving.

At the Christian County jail, a baggie of methamphetamine was found inside Basham’s wallet. Subsequent testing by the Missouri State Highway Patrol crime lab confirmed that the substance was .798 grams of methamphetamine.

This case was investigated by the Christian County Sheriff’s Office.  The prosecution was handled by Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sue Boresi.

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