On Wednesday, September 5, 2012, in Ozark, Missouri, Robert David Nelson (d/o/b 6/22/1965) was sentenced by Judge John Moody to consecutive life sentences for attempted statutory sodomy in the first degree and statutory rape in the first degree. The sentences were the result of the July 27, 2011, Christian County jury verdict finding Nelson guilty of six (6) counts of felony sex crimes committed by Nelson against his step-daughters in Taney County, in 2008.

In addition to the two (2) life sentences, Nelson was also sentenced to consecutive fifteen (15) year prison sentences on two (2) counts of child molestation in the first degree, and consecutive four (4) year sentences on two (2) counts of sexual misconduct with a child by indecent exposure. Nelson represented himself during the jury trial.

The charges stemmed from allegations that Nelson sexually abused two (2) young girls, ages 4 and 7, in his home in Kissee Mills, Taney County, Missouri, from May 2008 through the end of June 2008. A child abuse hotline call prompted an investigation that led to Nelson’s home, where he was found to be alone with three (3) children who were not his. Nelson had been given power of attorney by the children’s mother so that Nelson could care for the children while their mother was serving a prison sentence. It was during the six (6) weeks Nelson cared for the children alone that the sexual assaults were alleged to have occurred.

Nelson’s wife, Mia Michelle Smith, was found guilty earlier this year of two (2) counts of endangering the welfare of a child for having left her children with Nelson, where they were abused. She is currently serving concurrent eight (8) year prison sentences for those convictions.

Nelson was already on the Taney County sex offender registry before being left with the victims and their sibling in 2008. Nelson was also convicted of two (2) counts of child molestation in the first degree after a jury verdict from Christian County on October 1, 2010. Nelson has already been serving a twenty (20) year prison sentence from that 2010 guilty verdict.