Ozark, MO – Christian County Prosecuting Attorney, Amy J. Fite announced today that JEFFERY DENTON, dob: 11/22/1967 of Conway, Missouri was found guilty by a jury of the class C felony of stealing and the class C felony of passing a bad check. The case went to trial beginning on October 22, 2012 and the jury returned a verdict on October 23, 2012. The jury also recommended that Denton be sentenced to six years in the Missouri Depart of Correction on each count. 1^st Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Donovan Dobbs represented the State.

JEFFERY DENTON was found guilty of giving a check on a closed account to purchase a home in Nixa on September 7, 2007. The account had been closed since 2005. Denton then remained in the home without paying anything until March of 2008. The owner of the home testified that Mr. Denton kept giving different deadlines as to when he would make payments but that each deadline passed without payment.

The defendant was charged on April 9, 2008.  The defendant failed to appear in September of 2009 and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was arrested on the warrant in February of 2011.  Since 2011 the State prepared for trial on several occasions; however, the case was unable to be tried due to more serious cases taking precedent on the limited jury trial docket.

Formal sentencing is set for January 4, 2013. Prior to sentencing, a sentencing sentence report will be prepared by the Missouri Department of Corrections. The class C felony of stealing and passing a bad check carries a range of punishment of one (1) day to one (1) year in the Christian County Jail or one (1) year to seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and/or a fine not to exceed five thousand (5,000) dollars.