OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced today that DANNY J. PRALL, JR. dob: 11/7/1970 formerly of Topeka, KS and Ozark, MO was found guilty by a Christian County jury of forcible rape of a child less than 12, three counts of statutory sodomy 1st degree, sexual abuse, kidnapping, child molestation 1st degree, domestic assault 2nd degree, endangering the welfare of a child 1st degree and victim tampering. A jury trial was commenced before the Honorable Judge Tony Williams on November 18, 2013 and concluded on November 20, 2013.

The jury deliberated approximately 2 ½ hours before reaching its verdicts. The defendant was convicted of crimes occurring during the summer of 2009. It was more than two years after the offenses occurred when the child disclosed the offenses.

Formal sentencing is scheduled before the Honorable Tony Williams on February 14, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.

The range of punishment for forcible rape of a child less than 12 is life in prison with the defendant having to serve thirty (30) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections before being eligible for parole. The range of punishment for statutory sodomy 1st degree of a child less than 12 is a term of years not less than ten (10) in the Missouri Department of Corrections or life. The range of punishment for sexual abuse, kidnapping and child molestation 1st degree is five (5) years to fifteen (15) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The range of punishment for domestic assault 2nd degree, endangering the welfare of a child 1st degree and victim tampering is one (1) day to one 1 year in the Christian County Jail or two (2) years to seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and/or a fine up to $5, 000.

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Lacie Burk, Victim Advocate – Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office was recognized today by Christian County Commission for 5 years of service. Ms. Burk has been employed with the Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office since June 2008. Beginning in July 2011, Ms. Burk has been responsible for advocating for and supporting victims of crime and witnesses involved in the cases brought to the Christian County Prosecuting Attorney. She has attended many trainings and seminars related to Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Child Abuse. In addition, Ms. Burk has received a certificate through Missouri State University for completing the Crime Victim Advocate Training. She has also received training through Missouri KidFirst and is a Certified Safe-At-Home Application Assistant. Ms. Burk received her B.S. in Accounting from Missouri State University. Ms. Burk is also responsible for collecting delinquent taxes for the Missouri Department of Revenue.

Prosecutor Amy Fite stated: “Christian County has received exemplary service from Lacie Burk. She is an attribute to this office. She has excelled as a victim advocate. She is well equipped to provide victims and their families with references for resources, information and needed support during the court process. Ms. Burk has a quiet strength and sense of security about her and is able to convey that to the victims and families she serves.”

OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that on October 30, 2013, John C. Clark, D.O.B. 2-6-1979, pleaded guilty to one count of Involuntary Manslaughter and four counts of Assault in the Second Degree for the November 13, 2012 intoxication related crash on Missouri 14 that killed one and injured four others. The defendant was set for jury trial on November 4, 2013, before the Honorable Judge Mark Orr. Per the terms of the plea agreement, the defendant could face up to 14 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Sentencing is set for January 3, 2014 at 3:00 P.M.

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OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that Robert E. Bair, Jr., dob: 11-3-1983, pleaded guilty to Assault 1st Degree in front of the Honorable Judge Mark Orr on September 27, 2013.

Pursuant to a plea agreement Robert Bair pleaded guilty to Assault in the First Degree, class A felony. The terms of the plea agreement include the defendant receiving a Suspended Imposition of Sentence and being placed on probation for 5 years. If the probation were subsequently revoked then the defendant could face a sentence of 10 to 30 years of life in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

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OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that William Copher, dob: 07/05/1973 of Nixa, Missouri was found guilty after a jury trial presided over by the Honorable Judge Mark Orr on September 9, 2013, of unlawful use of a weapon and domestic assault in the third degree. The jury deliberated twenty-four (24) minutes.
First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Janette Bleau represented the State of Missouri. Evidence presented by the State included:

Victim K.M. testified that during the period of 01-03-12 to 01-04-12 while at her home in Christian County, Missouri her boyfriend, William E. Copher, engaged in a series of physical attacks and threats against her; including hitting, slapping, and stomping her in the face and head, throwing hot butter on her legs, threatening to burn and cut her face, threatening her with a knife to dismember her and kill her. K.M. testified that defendant further cut off her ability to communicate or leave the residence by taking away her car keys and phone. K.M testified defendant had threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone what he did. K.M told the jury she was afraid and believed Mr. Copher would kill her. K.M. stated that she caused a black eye to defendant when he had her on the floor, and he was on top of her, her puppy tried to protect her barking at the defendant and defendant punched the puppy to get it away from him. K.M. stated when defendant did that, she struck him in the facing causing a black eye. Deputy Durham, of the Christian County Sheriff’s Department, testified regarding booking the defendant into the jail on January 8, 2013 and to the booking photo taken that day of the defendant showing defendant with a black eye.

Deputy K. Heitman, of the Christian County Sheriff’s Department, and Sue Ann Robinson, of Missouri State Probation and Parole Office both testified that on January 5, 2013, they made contact with K.M. and noticed injuries to K.M. such as: her left eye was swollen, black, blue, and red in color; a cut to the back of her scalp; blood in her hair; burns to her legs and bruising to her ear. Photographs of K.M.’s injuries were also presented as evidence to the jury. Deputy Heitman and Ms. Robinson testified that K.M. was crying and distraught and that K.M. told her that defendant had threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone what he did. K.M told them she was afraid and believed Mr. Copher would kill her.

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

On or about July 14, 2003, defendant was convicted of the felony of burglary in the second degree in the Circuit Court of Greene County, Missouri, Case no. 31302CF6045, and
On or about July 24, 1992, defendant was convicted of the felony of burglary in the second degree, in the Circuit Court of Greene County, Missouri, Case no. 591CR1334.

Further, the Court found the defendant to have two prior domestic assault in the third degree convictions based on the following:

On or about November 6, 2002, defendant pleaded guilty to class A misdemeanor of domestic assault in the Circuit Court of Greene County, Missouri, Case No. 31301CF7597.
On or about July 14, 2003, defendant pleaded guilty to the class A misdemeanor of domestic assault in the third degree in the Circuit Court of Greene County, Missouri, Case No. 31302CF11711.

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.

Range of punishment for domestic assault in the third degree, with 2 prior third degree domestic assaults, and as a prior and persistent felony offender 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 November 22, 2013.

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