Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that MICHAEL L. ERB, dob: 8/11/1968 of Hollister, Missouri was found guilty of two counts of child molestation in the first degree. On December 1, 2009 a bench trial was held in Christian County on a change of venue motion filed by the defense. Judge Mark Orr announced the guilty verdict today at the Christian County Courthouse.

Between May 1 and November 15, 2005 the defendant subjected two separate victims under the age of fourteen to sexual contact during sleepovers at his house in Hollister, Missouri. The Hollister Police Department investigated the allegations and the forensic interviews of the minor children were performed by the Child Advocacy Center in Branson West.

Formal sentencing is set for March 19, 2010.

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