On Thursday afternoon, February 9, 2012, in the Circuit Court of Taney County, Judge Mark Orr sentenced Ricky Don Ralston (d.o.b. 11/28/1967) of Branson, to a total of fourteen (14) years in prison for sex crimes against two minors. Ralston was found guilty – as charged – by a Taney County jury on December 13, 2011, of the felonies of statutory rape second degree, statutory sodomy second degree, and sexual misconduct with a child by indecent exposure. Judge Orr sentenced Ralston to consecutive sentences of six (6) years for statutory rape second degree, six (6) years for statutory sodomy second degree, and two (2) years for sexual misconduct with a child by indecent exposure.

The charges stemmed from allegations that Ralston gave drugs and alcohol to his live-in girlfriend’s teenage daughter in 2008 and 2009, then had sexual intercourse with her, on multiple occasions. In addition to the jury finding Ralston guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of his crimes against that victim, Ralston was convicted of exposing his genitals to his girlfriend’s young son for the purpose of harassing and humiliating him.

Statutory rape second degree and statutory sodomy second degree are class C felonies, which carry a maximum prison sentence of seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Sexual misconduct with a child by indecent exposure is a class D felony, carrying a maximum prison sentence of four (4) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.