Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that RICHARD GEORGE ANDERSON of Branson, Missouri was found guilty by a jury after a two day trial of child molestation in the first degree. The seven-man, five-woman jury deliberated for about two hours before handing down the guilty verdict against RICHARD GEORGE ANDERSON, a former law enforcement officer.
In late October of 2004, a disclosure was made by a 6-year-old minor child that RICHARD GEORGE ANDERSON had touched the child’s penis and buttocks with his mouth. Investigation was conducted by the Taney County Sheriff’s Department and Missouri Children’s Division.
In 2007, the charge was brought against RICHARD GEORGE ANDERSON by then newly elected Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell, after the charge remained unfiled since it was received from the Sheriff’s Department in November of 2004.
Formal sentencing in the matter is set for January 21, 2010. The class B felony of child molestation of has a range of punishment of five (5) to fifteen (15) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.