Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that AVERY LATSON, dob: 04/21/1989 of Hollister, Missouri was sentenced Thursday by Taney County Circuit Judge Mark Orr to the maximum sentence of four (4) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the class D felony damage to jail property for his role in two separate instances at the old Taney County Jail. Both counts are to run concurrent, and probation was denied.

On March 28, 2008, AVERY LATSON set his boxer shorts and a piece of paper on fire in his cell at the old Taney County Jail located at 132 David Street in Forsyth, Missouri. And once again on April 4th, 2008, AVERY LATSON set a piece of paper on fire in his cell.

The class D felony of damage to jail property has a range of punishment of one (1) day to one (1) year in the Taney County jail, or one (1) year to four (4) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and/or a fine not to exceed $5,000. A copy of the statute under which AVERY LATSON was charged can be found at: http://www.moga.mo.gov/statutes/C200-299/2210000353.HTM