OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced today that Colby L. Sanders, dob: 07/31/1970 of Ozark, Missouri was found guilty after a jury trial presided over by Judge Mark Orr that began on December 3, 2012 and ended on December 6, 2012. The jury found him guilty of two counts of child molestation in the first degree, two counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree, one count forcible rape and one count forcible sodomy.

The crimes occurred between August 2007 and November 30, 2008. One of the victims was between eight and nine when the crimes occurred. The other victims were thirteen and seventeen at the time the crimes were committed. The crimes occurred at the defendant’s residence in Ozark. The case had been pending since 2009.

Judge Orr ordered that the Missouri Department of Corrections prepare a sentencing assessment report. He set sentencing on March 22, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. The defendant’s bond was revoked and he was taken into custody after the jury returned the verdicts of guilty.

Child molestation in the first degree is a class B felony. It carries a punishment of five to fifteen years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Statutory sodomy in the first degree with child less than 12 years is punishable at not less than ten years or up to life in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Statutory sodomy in the first degree with child less than 14 years is punishable at not less than five years or up to life in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Forcible rape and forcible sodomy are punishable at not less than five years up to life in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

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