On Tuesday, November 4, 2014, a four (4) man, eight (8) woman Taney County jury found JAMES W. WIKLUND, d/o/b 3-28-1975, guilty of seven (7) felonies, after a day-and-a-half of trial. The jury deliberated in the Circuit Court of Taney County for just less than thirty (30) minutes before reaching unanimous verdicts of guilty on the felony charges of burglary in the first degree, assault in the first degree, robbery in the first degree, armed criminal action, tampering in the first degree, and two (2) counts of kidnapping. Senior Judge Carr Woods scheduled Wiklund’s sentencing for January 13, 2015.

Wiklund’s co-defendant, Jonathan Hill, pleaded guilty and was sentenced on October 23, 2014. Hill received a sentence of twenty-five (25) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, pursuant to a plea agreement.

“My thanks goes to the Taney County Sheriff’s Office, the deputies and detectives, for the quick response and effort in conducting this investigation,” said Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell. “The victims were helpful and cooperative at every turn, and I thank them for their patience while the wheels of justice turned slowly.”

The felony charges stemmed from a home invasion that took place on December 28, 2012, in Ridgedale, Missouri. Wiklund was arrested on the morning of December 29, 2012, and has remained in custody awaiting his trial.