On Friday, July 13, 2012, Christian Circuit Associate Circuit Court Judge Larry Luna sentenced Jerry Robertson (d.o.b. 04/11/1968), of Branson, Missouri, to five (5) years in prison for the unclassified felony of forcible sodomy. The sentence followed a finding of guilt on May 21, 2012, after a bench trial held before Judge Luna on May 17th and 18th of this year. Both Robertson’s attorney and Taney County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Merrell made arguments to Judge Luna in advance of Luna’s pronouncement of sentence on Robertson.

The evidence presented at trial showed that Robertson’s fiancée’s sixteen (16) year old daughter made a sexual assault allegation 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.

The range of punishment for the unclassified felony of forcible sodomy is not less than five (5) years and not more than thirty (30) years or life in the Missouri Department of Corrections.