On Monday, May 21, 2012, Christian County Associate Circuit Court Judge Larry Luna announced a guilty verdict for the unclassified felony of forcible sodomy against Jerry Robertson (d.o.b. 04/11/1968), of Branson, Missouri. Sentencing for Robertson has been scheduled for July 13, 2012, in Forsyth, before Judge Luna.

The trial took place on Thursday, May 17th and Friday, May 18th, in Forsyth. Originally scheduled to be a jury trial on those dates, Robertson waived his right to a jury trial on Thursday morning, choosing to proceed with a trial before the Court. Judge Luna had previously been appointed as the judge on Robertson’s case.

The evidence stemmed from a sexual abuse allegation by Robertson’s fiancée’s sixteen (16) year old daughter, made on May 15, 2008. The victim claimed that on May 15, 2008, after school, she returned home to find Robertson. While the two were alone in the home, Robertson forcibly held the victim’s hand on Robertson’s penis and would not let the victim go. After a couple of minutes, the victim was allowed to leave, at which time she disclosed to friends what had happened. In response to the victim’s allegations, Robertson told investigators that victim must have made up the story because she was upset about having to do her chores.

Robertson faces a maximum sentence of life in prison for the unclassified felony of forcible sodomy.