FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
JANETTE BLEAU
417-581-7915

DATE: MAY 9, 2018

RE: ZEBANIAH BLANKENSHIP PLEADS GUILTY TO ELDER ABUSE IN THE SECOND DEGREE AND DOMESTIC ASSAULT IN THE SECOND DEGREE.

OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces Zebaniah Blankenship pled guilty on April 26, 2018 to elder abuse in the second degree, a class B felony and domestic assault in the second degree, a class C felony. He received a nine (9) year sentence in the Missouri Department of Corrections on each count to run concurrent to one another.

The incident occurred on October 25, 2016 at the victim’s home. Blankenship struck a family member who was over the age of sixty in the face with his hand and a piece of plastic lawn furniture thereby fracturing the victim’s nose. 911 was called by a neighbor and Blankenship fled from the scene. Officers from the Ozark Police Department arrived and the victim was transported to the hospital by ambulance.

Blankenship is a persistent felony offender in that he has prior felony convictions for forgery, distribution of a controlled substance and possession of controlled substance.

The case was prosecuted by First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Janette Bleau. The Ozark Police Department and the Division of Health and Senior Services investigated the crime.

A copy of this press release may be found here.

OZARK, MO—On January 18, 2018, the Honorable Jennifer Growcock, Circuit Judge of Division 2 of the Christian County Circuit Court, sentenced former Ozark resident Derrick Hough (27) to 6 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections . Hough was charged as a prior and persistent felony offender. Hough was sentenced to 6 years to run concurrent for six counts of receiving stolen property (Class C Felony), which were all for firearms stolen from a family member’s residence.

The case was prosecuted by Rachel E. Hopper, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. This case was investigated by the Ozark Police Department.

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 CONTACT: Anna L. Bunch                                                                                             Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney                                                                      (417) 581-7915

 DATE: January 31, 2018

 RE: ERIC WYATT SENTENCED TO DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS

OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces today that on January 31, 2018, Eric N. Wyatt DOB: 1/8/1975 of Nixa, Missouri, was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Elizabeth Bock to the Missouri Department of Corrections.

The Court had found Wyatt guilty of child molestation in the first degree following a bench trial that was held November 29-30, 2017. Before the bench trial began, Wyatt pled guilty to another count, which was tampering with a motor vehicle in the first degree.  The incidents charged occurred in 2014.

At today’s hearing, the State requested Wyatt be sentenced to fifteen (15) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The defense requested that Wyatt receive probation or 120 days under the Sex Offender Assessment Unit.

The Court sentenced Wyatt to seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on the child molestation count and three (3) years on the tampering with a motor vehicle count, said counts to run concurrently. Wyatt was also ordered to pay restitution under 559.105, RSMo. to the victim of the tampering count.

The range of punishment for child molestation in the first degree was five (5) to fifteen (15) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The range of punishment for tampering in the first degree was a term of incarceration not to exceed seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, and/or a fine not to exceed $5000.

The case was handled by Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Anna L. Bunch.  The case was investigated by the Christian County Sheriff’s Office.

Click Here to Access The Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: NOVEMER 2, 2017

On October 30, 2017, the Honorable Jennifer Growcock, Circuit Judge of Division 2 of the Christian County Circuit Court, sentenced former Highlandville resident, Joseph W. Hahne (40), to the Missouri Department of Corrections. Hahne was a charged as a prior and persistent offender in 5 different cases. The charges and corresponding sentences are as follows:

• Receiving Stolen Property (Class C Felony): 10 Years
• Receiving Stolen Property (Class C Felony): 10 years
• Making False Report (Class B Misdemeanor): 6 Months
• Receiving Stolen Property (Class C Felony): 7 years
• Fraudulently Stop Payment (Class D Felony): 5 years
• Defrauding Secured Creditor (Class D Felony): 5 years
• Passing Bad Check (Class A Misdemeanor): 30 Days

All sentences are to be run concurrent for a maximum of 10-years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The Court retained jurisdiction for 120 days with Institutional Treatment in the Department of Corrections.

The State was represented by Christian County Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney John L. Young. The Victim Advocate was Julie Harlan.

Click Here to Access Press Release