Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that MICHAEL HUNGERFORD, dob: 11/7/1955 of Powersite, Missouri was sentenced to ten (10) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the class B felony of child molestation in the first degree by Taney County Circuit Judge Mark Orr. Probation was denied. On February 24, 2010 MICHAEL HUNGERFORD was found guilty after a three day jury trial in Christian County, Missouri.

On October 16, 2008, an eyewitness observed MICHAEL HUNGERFORD rubbing a ten year old student between the legs with his fingers in his classroom during school hours at the Forsyth Middle School. The ten year old student later disclosed this inappropriate rubbing during a forensic interview at the Child Advocacy Center in Springfield, Missouri. Investigation of the molestation and questioning of the defendant MICHAEL HUNGERFORD was completed by officers from the Forsyth Police Department.

The class B felony of child molestation in the first degree has a range of punishment of five (5) to fifteen (15) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.