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Kayla Fowler sentenced to ten years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on tampering 1st degree and resisting arrest
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 1st 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 1st 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 1st 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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CARES Act funding awarded for temporary APA’s and Investigators, APA’s sworn in
Beginning in August the CCPA was able to hire three veteran Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys, Rachel Smith, Dwight Scroggins, and Joe Schoeberl and two experienced investigators, Kevin Holle and Justin Varner. The final member of the CARES ACT Team started on September 9, 2020. The team will serve through December 2020. While here they will be focused on assisting in addressing the caseload backlog created as a result of the pandemic.
Brittany Scrivener Sentenced to 20 years in Missouri Department of Corrections for July 2018 Car Chase and Assault Against Police Officer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Amy Fite
Prosecuting Attorney
(417) 581-7915
DATE: August 24, 2020
RE: Brittany Scrivener Sentenced to 20 years in Missouri Department of Corrections for July 2018 Car Chase and Assault Against Police Officer
OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that Brittany Scrivener dob: xx/xx/1991 formerly of Springfield, Missouri was convicted of Unlawful Use of a Weapon Shooting from a Motor Vehicle, Assault 2nd Degree (3 counts), Armed Criminal Action (3 counts), Possession of Methamphetamine, Resisting Arrest by Flight and Driving While Under the Influence of Controlled Substance for crimes committed on July 8, 2018.
On August 24, 2020, Judge Laura Johnson formally sentenced Ms. Scrivener to twenty years in prison. Ms. Scrivener plead guilty to all crimes charged as a part of a plea agreement with the Christian County Prosecutor’s Office on August 17, 2020. The Defendant admitted to leading officers on a high-speed police chase throughout Christian County on July 9, 2018. In Court, she agreed that during the pursuit, she fired multiple shots at three different officers. No private citizens, officers or police vehicles were hit by the shots fired. The defendant admitted that during the high-speed pursuit, she possessed methamphetamine and was under its influence while driving the car.
Nixa Police Department handled the investigation of this case. Christian County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri Highway Patrol assisted Nixa Police Department in apprehending Ms. Scrivener and in ending the pursuit. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Rachel Smith. The team assigned to this case included: Victim Advocate Julie Harlan, Legal Assistant Libby Deroche, and Investigator Kevin Holle.
New APA Jacob Cantwell Sworn In
On June 30, 2020 Judge Bacon swore in Jacob Cantwell as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. Prior to receiving his badge of office he was administered the Prosecutor Code of Ethics by Prosecuting Attorney Amy Fite.
Jacob Cantwell, a native of Warrensburg, Missouri received his Juris Doctorate from the Washburn University School of Law (2019). He also holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Evangel Universtiy (2016).
Closure of Illusions Gentlemen’s Club
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