Christian County Prosecuting Attorney

OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced today that on December 14, 2012 Patrick Noel; dob: 1/19/1984 formerly of Wheatland, Missouri was sentenced by the Honorable Judge Mark Orr to seven (7) consecutive seven (7) year sentences for a total of forty-nine (49) years in the Department of Corrections. On October 23, 2012, in front of the Honorable Judge Orr, Patrick Noel entered an Alford plea to two counts of statutory rape in the second degree that had been amended down from higher charges pursuant to a plea agreement as well as pleading guilty as charged to five counts of statutory rape in the second degree. This guilty plea was entered pursuant to a plea agreement that included two counts being amended to lesser charges and some counts being dismissed. There was no agreement to the term of sentence the defendant would serve but per the plea agreement the State of Missouri announced its intention to request the defendant serve the maximum on each count pled to and for the defendant to serve those counts consecutively for a term of forty-nine years.

At the time of the offenses, the defendant along with his wife and children were long-term house guests in the home of the family where the two victims lived. The two victims were 13 years old and 15 years old during the time frame they were victimized by the defendant.

The range of punishment for statutory rape in the second degree is one day to seven years incarceration and/or a fine up to $5,000. Currently, the defendant will have to serve a minimum of thirty-three percent (33%) of each sentence before being eligible for parole. Thus, the minimum term the defendant can serve before being eligible for parole is 16 years and two months. The defendant will be required to complete the Missouri Sex Offender Program before being eligible for parole. Once released on parole, the defendant will be on parole for the remainder of the forty-nine year sentence. The defendant will be required to register as a sex offender.

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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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The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced today that on November 30, 2012, GERALD LOVETT BLUFORD, DOB: 12/27/1959, formerly of Nixa, Missouri was found guilty by a Christian County jury of the class C felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Honorable Judge John Waters presiding.

On November 29, 2012, with the Honorable Judge John Waters presiding the jury trial of State of Missouri v. GERALD LOVETT BLUFORD commenced. 1st Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Donovan Dobbs represented the State. The facts presented to the jury included defendant was arrested for an unrelated matter by the Nixa Police Department on November 20, 2007 and a search of the defendant incident to that arrest was conducted. Inside Bluford’s pants pocket the officer found a packaged chunky white substance that lab analysis confirmed to be 4.39 grams of cocaine base. The jury trial concluded on Friday, November 30, 2012 and after deliberations the jury returned a guilty verdict to the single count of Possession of a Controlled Substance.

BLUFORD was arrested on November 20, 2007 for the stabbing death of Eric Eidson and was previously found guilty by a Christian County jury on December 17, 2009 of Voluntary Manslaughter and Armed Criminal Action in connection with that stabbing death. BLUFORD is currently serving the sentence given by the Honorable Judge Mark Orr to serve fifteen (15) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the Voluntary Manslaughter and to serve ten (10) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the Armed Criminal Action, those sentences to run consecutively.

BLUFORD is scheduled to be sentenced before the Honorable Judge John Waters on January 16, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. The range of punishment for the class C felony of Possession of a Controlled Substance is 1 day to 1 year incarceration in the Christian County jail, 2 to 7 years incarceration in the Missouri Department of Corrections and/or a fine up to $5,000.

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Ozark, MO – Christian County – Prosecuting Attorney Amy Fite announces that on Monday November 19, 2012 Anna Bunch joined the Prosecuting Attorney’s as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. Ms. Bunch received her undergraduate degree from University of Missouri majoring in Journalism and Political Science. She received her Juris Doctorate from University of Missouri School of Law in May of 2007. Prior to joining the Christian County Prosecutor’s office, she worked for the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office where she prosecuted a variety of crimes including property crimes and crimes against persons, and most recently served in the Warrant Unit reviewing the majority of cases that were received into the office and served as a liaison with law enforcement officers. Ms. Bunch has also worked at the Missouri Attorney General’s office handling criminal appeals and motions for post-conviction relief.

Ms. Bunch in her current duties will carry a felony and misdemeanor caseload as well as appear in associate circuit court. She was hired to fill a currant vacancy in the office. Ms. Fite stated, “I am very excited to have Ms. Bunch come and join our office. I believe her experience and work ethic will help us to continue to provide efficient and effective prosecutions for the citizens of Christian County. ”

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Ozark, MO – Christian County Prosecuting Attorney, Amy J. Fite announced today that KARENA D. SMITH, dob: 09/11/1992 of Tunas, Missouri plead guilty to the class B felony of involuntary manslaughter in the 1^st degree and two class C felonies of assault in the second degree. The case was set to go to trial today in Christian County in front of Christian County Circuit Judge Mark Orr. The defendant announced her desire to plead guilty and did so on Friday November 2, 2012. The plea was without a plea agreement with the State other than the sentences for each count would run concurrent with each other.

KARENA D. SMITH plead guilty to driving while intoxicated while driving a car on May 31, 2010 and being criminally negligent when she failed to yield to oncoming traffic which caused another vehicle to hit hers. In the wreck, one of her passengers was killed and another physically injured. The driver of the other vehicle was also physically injured. SMITH had a blood alcohol content of .191. The legal limit is .08.

Formal sentencing is set for January 11, 2013. Prior to sentencing, a sentencing sentence report will be prepared by the Missouri Department of Corrections. The class B felony of involuntary manslaughter in the first degree carries a range of punishment of five (5) year to fifteen (15) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.  Each class C felony of assault in the second degree 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.

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