FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

DATE: November 23, 2020

RE:  CARL C. FERGUSON FOUND GUILTY OF STATUTORY RAPE IN THE FIRST DEGREE OF A CHILD LESS THAN TWELVE-YEARS-OLD.

OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that on November 20, 2020, Carl C. Ferguson, was found guilty of statutory rape in the first degree of a child less than twelve-years-old by a Christian County jury. The Honorable Judge Jennifer Growcock presided over the trial that began on November 16^th, 2020. The defendant is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on February 3, 2021 at 1:30 P.M.

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
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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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 1^st 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 1^st 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 1^st 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: AMY FITE
Prosecuting Attorney
(417) 581-7915

OR

BRAD COLE
Christian County Sheriff
(417) 582-5330

DATE: July 17, 2020

RE: Closure of Illusions Gentlemen’s Club

OZARK, MO – Christian County Prosecuting Attorney Amy J. Fite and Sheriff Brad Cole announce the closure of Illusions Gentlemen’s Club.

Today the Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office working with the Christian County Sheriff’s Office completed two (2) cases stemming from an investigation into suspected criminal activity occurring inside Illusions Gentlemen’s Club. The investigation into the Nixa, Missouri strip club and adult cabaret began in 2019. To date, the investigation has resulted in both criminal and civil cases. One criminal case involved charges against one of Illusions’ owners. The civil case sought an injunction from the Court ordering the closure of Illusions as an illegally operating strip club. Other criminal and civil investigations against other suspects are ongoing.

Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole explained “I and my team of dedicated deputies and detectives spent countless hours addressing the crime and safety problems emanating from Illusions strip club. Their diligence and hard work over the last year, coupled with skilled advocacy from the Christian County Prosecutor’s Office, lead to the closure of Illusion’s strip club.”

Christian County Sheriff Office’s detectives found probable cause of various violations of criminal law and submitted them to the Christian County Prosecutors Office to review for formal charges. Christian County Prosecutors filed ten (10) criminal charges against Craig Winchell for illegally operating a sexually oriented business, maintaining a public nuisance and failing to register Illusions as a fictious business. Mr. Winchell accepted responsibility for these charges by pleading guilty this afternoon. He was sentenced by Christian County Associate Circuit Court Judge Bacon and will pay fines totaling $10,000 plus court costs and fees.

Craig Winchell is one of the owners of Illusions – owning both the Guin Road building and the sexually-oriented business. In an agreement with the Christian County Prosecuting Attorney, Mr. Winchell agreed that a sexually oriented business (strip club) cannot operate at 755 Guin Road. In settling the civil suit, Mr. Winchell agreed that the strip club that operated at 755 Guin Road will not reopen.

“The hard work of the Christian County Sheriff’s deputies and detectives assigned to this investigation, with assistance from their law enforcement partners at MOCIC and Greene County Sheriff’s Office, eliminated a Christian County hot spot of criminal behavior. These deputies and detectives should be commended for their diligence and hard work” stated Christian County Prosecuting Attorney Amy Fite. “I am proud of my team of prosecutors and the entire staff at the Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office whose hard work alongside their counterparts at the Christian County Sheriff’s Office has made Christian County a safer place.”

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For Additional Information please contact Sheriff Brad Cole at 417-582-5330 or Christian County Prosecutor Amy Fite 417-581-7915

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: TIMOTHY J. MCDONALD
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
(417) 581-7915

DATE: July 16, 2020

RE: Kayla Fowler Found Guilty of Tampering 1^st Degree and Resisting Arrest

OZARK, MO – Christian County Prosecuting Attorney Amy J. Fite announced today that KAYLA FOWLER formerly of Stockton, Missouri 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 defendant was charged with and tried on four counts – count I – tampering in the 1^st degree, count II – possession of controlled substance (methamphetamine), count III resisting arrest, and count IV possession of controlled substance (marijuana).  At the conclusion of the jury trial and following deliberation, the jury returned verdicts finding the defendant guilty of tampering in the first degree, a class D felony, and resisting arrest, a class E felony and finding the defendant not guilty of the two counts of possession of controlled substances.   

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.

Further, the State had charged the defendant as a prior and persistent felony offender.  In a hearing conducted without the jury being present, the Court found the defendant to be a prior and persistent felony offender.

Sentencing is set for September 11, 2020.  The range of punishment for the class D felony tampering in the first degree as a prior and persistent felony offender is 3 – 10 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and/or a fine up to $10,000.  The range of punishment for the class E felony of resisting arrest as a prior and persistent felony offender is 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 up to $10,000.

This case was investigated by the Christian County Sheriff Office.  The case was prosecuted 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.