On August 1, 2007, a three (3) woman, nine (9) man jury convicted ROBERT MICHAEL OLIVER, dob: 1/21/1961, of Branson, Missouri of two (2) counts of the class A felony of sexual exploitation of a minor, and two (2) counts of the class B felony of promoting child pornography. On November 6, 2005, deputies from the Taney County Sheriff’s Department made contact with ROBERT MICHAEL OLIVER at his residence in Branson after a disclosure by two neighbor boys, ages five (5) and eight (8) that they were photographed naked. From the residence a digital camera and personal computer were recovered. Computer forensics work completed by the Taney County Sheriff’s Department recovered pornographic pictures of the boys from the camera, as well as countless images of child pornography from his personal computer.
Christopher W. Lebeck, Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney was pleased with the jury’s decision stating, “ [w]ith the outstanding work by the detectives of the Taney County Sheriff’s Department, another amateur child pornographer has been held accountable for his inexcusable actions. We are thankful that justice has been secured for the families of these victimized boys.â€
Sentencing in this case is set for September 13, 2007. Each of the two (2) counts of the class A felony of sexual exploitation of a minor carries with it a range of punishment of ten (10) to thirty (30) years, or life imprisonment in the Department of Corrections. Each of the two (2) counts of the class B felony of promoting child pornography carries with it a range of punishment of five (5) to fifteen (15) years in the Department of Corrections.