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).
POSITION AVAILABLE – Victim Advocate
The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has an immediate opening for a full-time Victim Advocate. The Victim Advocate will be knowledge as to the criminal justice process. The Victim Advocate will support victims and witnesses going through the criminal justice process by providing information to victims and witnesses about the criminal justice process. The Victim Advocate will support victims and witnesses by keeping victims and witnesses appraised regarding court dates and court events. Victim Advocates will provide victims and witnesses information about the constitutional and statutory rights afforded to victims of and witnesses to crimes. The victim advocate will be knowledge regarding resources in the community to share about available resources to the victims and witnesses.
Qualified candidates will be able to exercise good judgment, be a team player, and be patient. The qualified candidate must be able to work under pressure and deadlines. The qualified candidate will be required pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check. This is a safety sensitive position.
The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is a fileless office. The successful candidate will be proficient at keyboarding. We use PROSECUTORbyKARPEL as our case management system.
Preferred candidate will have previous experience as a victim advocate and/or a degree in criminal justice, psychology or a related degree.
Resumes will be accepted until position is filled.
If interested, please forward a cover letter and resume by mail or e-mail to:
Amy Fite
Prosecuting Attorney
Circuit Courts Building
102 W. Walnut, First Floor
Ozark, MO 65721
e-mail: Amy.Fite@prosecutors.mo.gov
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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
Kayla Fowler Found Guilty of Tampering 1st Degree and Resisting Arrest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: TIMOTHY J. MCDONALD
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
(417) 581-7915
DATE: July 16, 2020
RE: Kayla Fowler Found Guilty of 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 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 defendant was charged with and tried on four counts – count I – tampering in the 1st degree, count II – possession of controlled substance (methamphetamine), count III resisting arrest, and count IV possession of controlled substance (marijuana). At the conclusion of the jury trial and following deliberation, the jury returned verdicts finding the defendant guilty of tampering in the first degree, a class D felony, and resisting arrest, a class E felony and finding the defendant not guilty of the two counts of possession of controlled substances.
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.
Further, the State had charged the defendant as a prior and persistent felony offender. In a hearing conducted without the jury being present, the Court found the defendant to be a prior and persistent felony offender.
Sentencing is set for September 11, 2020. The range of punishment for the class D felony tampering in the first degree as a prior and persistent felony offender is 3 – 10 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and/or a fine up to $10,000. The range of punishment for the class E felony of resisting arrest as a prior and persistent felony offender is 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 up to $10,000.
This case was investigated by the Christian County Sheriff Office. The case was prosecuted 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.
