AUSTIN WILLIAMS SENTENCED TO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR 2021 ASSAULT OF OZARK POLICE OFFICER
OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that on November 20th, 2024, Austin J. Williams appeared for sentencing before the Honorable Laura J. Johnson. On August 7th, 2024, after a bench trial held on June 14th, 2024, Judge Johnson found Williams guilty of assault in the first degree of a special victim and endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree. Williams was found not guilty on a separate charge of resisting arrest. Judge Johnson sentenced Williams to ten (10) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for assault in the first degree of a special victim and seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree. Judge Johnson ordered the sentences to run concurrently.
Williams was sentenced for his actions on May 19th, 2021, when the victim, a law enforcement officer, was dispatched to Williams’s residence to assist Children’s Division with an investigation of the family’s living conditions. Williams and his girlfriend, combative for most of the encounter, eventually agreed to allow other family members to take custody of their minor child after officers noted living conditions that included trash piled up around the house and the smell of what officers described as decomposing meat.
Upon arrival at the residence where the parties agreed the minor child could stay while Williams and his girlfriend cleaned up their house, Williams again became combative. The victim asked Williams to step outside into the garage to cool off, and Williams went outside. Inside, Williams’s girlfriend became argumentative and left officers no choice but to decide to take the minor child into protective custody.
Upon hearing this, Williams’s girlfriend yelled out to Williams, who came in from the garage and in one motion, charged and punched the victim in the face, breaking his nose. The minor child was in or near the path of Williams as he rushed the victim. Williams’s momentum caused both he and the victim to fall to the ground, where Williams continued to assault the victim, even locking his arm around the victim’s neck. It took another officer at the residence threatening Williams with a Taser to cause Williams to stop the assault. Afterward, Williams told the victim that he (Williams) hoped that the assault had “hurt”.
The case was investigated by the Ozark Police Department and prosecuted by Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Dan Brogdon. Prosecution of the case, as always, was a team effort. Dawn Kloba and Julie Harlan served as the Victim Advocates and Athena Brown served as Legal Assistant. Investigators Greg Reed and Justin Wishin assisted in the investigation and trial preparation for the Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
OZARK WOMAN FOUND GUILTY OF ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF A CHILD
OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that on August 7, 2024, after a bench trial held on July 29, 2024, the Honorable Laura J. Johnson found Cindy James guilty of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree a class D felony and careless and imprudent driving a class B misdemeanor.
On February 4, 2019, two concerned citizens called 911, stating that a female was driving a white truck extremely recklessly around the city of Nixa with a small girl in the vehicle. Both witnesses followed James for almost thirty (30) minutes while she committed multiple traffic violations and almost caused multiple accidents. During the incident James ran through red lights, drove the wrong way on Highway 14, was weaving through traffic, was cutting people off, drove over the curb onto the sidewalk, and drove through the grass median on Highway 160. Both witnesses testified that it was a miracle that there was no car crash and that it was clear that James put the child in danger with her driving.
Officers with the Nixa Police Department were able to locate the vehicle, based upon the description provided by the two callers, and ultimately pulled the vehicle over at the intersection of Mount Vernon and Gregg Road in Nixa, Christian County, Missouri. Officers with the Nixa Police Department investigated the incident and were able to identify the driver as Cindy James. Officers also determined that the small child in the vehicle was the defendant’s daughter. James was ultimately arrested, and the child was placed into protective custody. With the help of Children’s Division officers were able to ensure the safety of the child and made sure the child got home safely.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney II Jacob Cantwell. Julie Harlan served as the Victim Advocate on the case and Alexis Simmons served as the Legal Assistant on the case. Further Christian County Investigator Justin Wishin assisted with the investigation and assisted with trial preparation.
James will be sentenced by Judge Johnson on January 8, 2025, at 2:30 PM. The range of punishment for the class D felony of Endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree is up to seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and the range of punishment for the class B misdemeanor of careless and imprudent driving is six (6) months in the Christian County Jail.
DUSTIN D. ARNOLD SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS IN THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS FOR NIXA BURGLARY AND AUTO THEFT
OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announces that on June 20, 2024, Dustin Daron Arnold, 43, was sentenced to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to two counts of felony theft, Conspiracy to Commit a Class C Felony, Burglary 2nd Degree, and Property Damage 1st Degree.
The charges stem from a burglary at a Nixa residence on January 24, 2023. Among the items stolen from the residence was a sixty-thousand-dollar sports car later recovered near Clinton, MO. Evidence indicated that Arnold planned the burglary and auto theft weeks in advance. Arnold appeared with his attorney on jury trial April 22, 2024. The parties selected a jury panel before reaching a plea agreement prior to the introduction of evidence. In return for Arnold’s guilty plea, the State agreed that it would argue for 15 years imprisonment at sentencing. As a persistent felony offender, Arnold could have faced up to 30 years or life imprisonment had he proceeded to trial.
At the June 20 sentencing hearing, the assistant prosecutor asked that Arnold be sentenced to fifteen years in prison, highlighting Arnold’s past criminal convictions, his history of failure on probation, and his refusal to accept full responsibility for his actions. After hearing argument from both sides, the Court sentenced Arnold to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for Stealing a Motor Vehicle as a Prior Stealing Offender, 15 years for Conspiracy to Commit a Class C Felony, 10 years for Burglary 2nd Degree, 10 years for Stealing – $750 or more, and 7 years for 1st Degree Property Damage. Arnold’s sentences will run concurrently for a total of 15 years in the Department of Corrections. Arnold faces additional charges out of Greene County and Lawrence County for Delivery of Controlled Substance and Resisting Arrest.
The case was prosecuted by Christian County Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Chris Aiken and Michael Younker. Julie Harlan served as Victim Advocate and Violet Marquart served as Legal Assistant. The Christian County Sheriff’s Department investigated the crime with help from Cass County Sheriff’s Office.