Man faces extended sentencing for predatory sexual offender status

November 10, 2012 (Press-News.org) Man faces extended sentencing for predatory sexual offender status

Under Missouri's sentencing laws, an individual who is convicted of a sexual offense and was previously convicted of a sexual offense, or multiple sexual offenses at a certain felony level or higher, faces extended sentencing. A 68-year-old Missouri man faces an extended sentence after being deemed a predatory sexual offender near Strafford, Missouri.

Story of the man's arrest

The facts leading up to the predatory sexual offender charge began in southwest Missouri, according to an article by the Associated Press discussing the man's charges. Reports of a "Peeping Tom" looking into the windows of a family's house began in December 2011 in Strafford, about 14 miles from Springfield, Missouri. The house is home to children between the ages of 6 and 18 years old, and the man lived at a farm across the road from the house. However, the 68-year-old man was linked to the reports of a suspect looking into the windows of the house after an investigator contacted the man at his farm and asked him about an 8-year-old girl's claim that he fondled her and showed himself to her when giving the girl a horse-riding lesson on a fake horse.

During the conversation with the investigator, the man agreed to meet the investigator to discuss the issue at the local sheriff's office, but instead fled town. Two weeks later, the man was found working at a carnival in Charles City, Iowa. The man was using an assumed name and had shaved his head and beard, but authorities identified him by fingerprint. He had also been living under a different false name in Strafford. The man was taken into custody after being discovered in Iowa, and three pairs of little girl underwear, one pair of small boy underwear, a female wig, a black ski mask, and more than $4,000 was in his possession at the time of arrest.

The man was initially arrested on a warrant for forgery, but one day later he was charged with first-degree child molestation and sexual misconduct involving a child less than 15 years. The man faces predatory sexual offender status because of his criminal history.

Since 1968, the man has been arrested and convicted for indecent exposure to minors and adults, cruelty toward a child, sexual assault of a child, rape, attempted rape, resisting arrest and possession of illegal drugs. His convictions were in multiple states, and there is still one outstanding warrant in Colorado for crimes against children. The 68-year-old also failed to register as a sex offender in Missouri, Iowa and Colorado. The failure to register as a sex offender in Missouri comes with its own penalties.

Extended sentencing for predatory sexual offender status

The man faces a life prison sentence because of his lengthy criminal history involving multiple sex crimes. In Missouri, an individual is considered a predatory sexual offender when the person is guilty of forcible rape, statutory rape 1st degree, forcible sodomy, statutory sodomy 1st, any attempt of the mentioned offenses, child molestation 1st degree Class A felony, or sexual abuse Class B; and previously committed one of the referenced acts regardless of whether or not the individual was charged or found guilty for the previous act.

An individual deemed a predatory sexual offender faces life with eligibility for parole and a minimum of 30 years except in certain circumstances. Moreover, the sentence cannot be discharged. Therefore, a person can be sentenced as a predatory sexual offender and face life in prison in Missouri for allegedly committing multiple sexual offenses without being convicted of more than one.

The predatory sentencing law is flexible and extremely tough. If you have been charged with a sexual offense in Missouri, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to protect your rights.

Article provided by Featherston Law Firm
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