Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that RICHARD GEORGE ANDERSON of Branson, Missouri was sentenced to seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections by Taney County Circuit Judge Mark Orr. Probation was denied. In November of last year, RICHARD GEORGE ANDERSON was found guilty by 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.