On Tuesday, April 7, 2015, STEPHEN N. GALLAGHER, d/o/b 5-01-1954, of Rockaway Beach, Missouri, entered a plea of guilty to the class D felony of attempted arson in the second degree, and entered an Alford plea of guilty to the class D felony of sexual misconduct involving a child by indecend exposure. The guilty pleas occurred in lieu of a bench trial scheduled to be held before Taney County Circuit Court Judge Laura Johnson. Gallagher entered the pleas pursuant to an agreement whereby the Taney County Prosecutor’s Office would dismiss three (3) felony counts, and the sentences Gallagher could receive would be concurrent to each other. There is no plea agreement as to what sentence Gallagher will receive on the two (2) felonies to which he pled guilty. Sentencing was scheduled by Judge Johnson for July 23, 2015.

The charges stemmed from allegations that Gallagher had inappropriately touched and exposed himself to an eight-year-old girl on July 23, 2013, at his home in Rockaway Beach, Missouri. Upon being confronted by his wife about the allegations, Gallagher doused the home in gasoline and attempted to light a plush doll on fire in the living room. Gallagher was arrested on the date of the offenses, and has remained in custody since that time.

Both class D felonies carry a maximum sentence of up to four (4) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and/or a fine not to exceed $5,000.00.