Christian County Prosecuting Attorney

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

                       Kristen Tuohy

                       417-581-7915

DATE: March 24, 2023

OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that on March 6, 2023, Richard Lyle Rose, 79, was sentenced to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections following an Alford plea of guilty to the offense of child molestation in the second degree for events occurring on or between August 1, 2021 and September 25, 2021. The range in punishment for this class B felony is 5-15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. An individual convicted and sentenced for this offense shall not be eligible for parole until eighty-five percent of the sentence is served. The Honorable Judge Laura Johnson presided over the plea and sentencing hearings.  

Many child sexual abuse cases are never reported to law enforcement. If you suspect a child needs help, please make a report. The Children Division’s Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-800-392-3728.

The case was prosecuted by Christian County Prosecuting Attorney Kristen M. Tuohy. Shannon Stephens served as Victim Advocate and Suzanne Frakes served as Legal Assistant.  The Sparta Police Department investigated the crime.   

Please congratulate Lauren Dothage on being recognized as employee of the month of February! Among some of her accomplishments, fellow peers noted that Ms. Dothage was always willing to lend a helping hand and go above and beyond her normal caseload. Further, she recently went through our database and helped with a massive cleanout on hundreds of older cases, ensuring they got reassigned to the right attorney to review and make a decision on. She gets along great with co-workers and brings cheer to those around her. Congrats, again, to our employee of the month of February!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: PROSECUTING ATTORNEY’S OFFICE

           Shana Mora. 1^st APA

                       417-581-7915

DATE: February 9, 2023

OZARK, MO – Christian County Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Tuohy announces that on February 1, 2023, Christopher Mosher was sentenced to twenty-five years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for child molestation.

On November 3, 2022, Christopher Mosher entered a guilty plea to two counts of child molestation in the second degree in front of the Honorable Judge Laura Johnson. At the plea hearing, the State outlined the factual basis for the case explaining that the defendant’s girlfriend lived with him and her minor children for a period of years. One of the children disclosed to school officials that the defendant would wake her up in the middle of the night and make her “do what mom and dads do.” A hotline call to the Missouri Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline was made. In response to that hotline call, the Division of Children’s Services and the Christian County Sheriff’s Office responded to investigate.  The child was later forensically interviewed at the Child Advocacy Center in Springfield, Mo.

The Honorable Judge Johnson sentenced the defendant to serve two twelve and a half year sentences on both counts of child molestation second degree to run consecutively to each other. The defendant must serve eighty-five percent of one sentence before beginning the sentence on the other count.  

Identifying and successfully prosecuting child abuse and sexual offenses against children requires citizens to report any child’s suspected sexual or physical abuse.  If you suspect child abuse or neglect, please call the Missouri Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline at 1-800-392-3738. 

The case was prosecuted by Christian County First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Shana Mora.  The rest of the team assigned to this case included Cathryn Ables, Victim Advocate, and Suzanne Frakes, Legal Assistant.  The Christian County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crime.  Sarah Spurlock was the lead investigator assigned to the case.

Please congratulate Dawn Kloba on being recognized as employee of the month of January!  She is the first to attain this title since Kristen Tuohy took over as Christian County’s Elected Prosecutor. Ms. Tuohy implemented a voting system that allows employees within the Prosecuting office to anonymously cast one vote for which fellow employee they think deserves employee of the month. Among some of the accomplishments, fellow peers noted that Ms. Kloba went above and beyond to always lend a helping hand to fellow workers, and recognized her great job with victims. She has a great attitude and has made a profound impact on the office in the short time she’s been here. Congrats, again, to our employee of the month of January!

On December 30th, former Christian County Prosecuting Attorney Amy Fite affirmed Kristen Tuohy as the new Prosecuting Attorney for Christian County! Kristen joined the Christian County Prosecutor’s Office in July 2012, and for the last ten years served as the First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Christian County. Kristen received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from University of Missouri in 1999. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law in 2003. Prior to joining the Christian County Prosecutor’s Office, Kristen served as a Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office specializing in serious drug offenses. Kristen also worked as an Assistant Attorney General, an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney with the Newton County Prosecutor’s Office and as an Assistant Public Defender.

Kristen recently received a ten-year MAC service award and last year was awarded the 2022 Women in Justice Award. She was also named a 2022 Christian County Employee of the Year, for her role in combating child sexual and physical abuse, through Missouri’s “Train the Trainer:  Crime Scene to Trial” program. We look forward to what is in store for Kristen as our new Prosecuting Attorney!