On Thursday afternoon, September 28, 2017, Scott Ingalsbe, d/o/b: 10-25-1961, of Reeds Spring, Missouri, was sentenced by Taney County Associate Circuit Court Judge Tiffany Yarnell to serve one (1) year in jail, with another one (1) year suspended. On June 28, 2017, Ingalsbe was found guilty of two counts of sexual misconduct in the first degree, after a nine (9) woman, three (3) man jury deliberated for just over one hour.

Judge Tiffany Yarnell, who presided over the three day trial – which began on Monday, June 26, 2017 – heard arguments from the attorneys on the case, on Thursday afternoon. Before pronouncing sentence, Judge Yarnell told Ingalsbe that she thought that ordering him to serve consecutive one-year jail sentences would be appropriate in this case.

“It was clear that Judge Yarnell was inclined to sentence Mr. Ingalsbe to consecutive sentences, and to have him serve two (2) years straight in the county jail. By asking Judge Yarnell to consider sentencing Mr. Ingalsbe to jail for one (1) year, followed by supervised probation in the community for two (2) years – with special requirements – our goal is to punish Mr. Ingalsbe for the crime he committed, as well as take measures to ensure community safety upon his release,” said Taney County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Merrell. “If he violates his probation over that two year probation period, he could be sent back to jail to serve the remaining year in jail.”

Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Merrell and Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Christopher W. Lebeck presented evidence at trial that on July 19, 2016, Scott Ingalsbe was hiding in some weeds or bushes beside the sidewalk running between the Branson Rec-Plex and Wal-Mart – a common path for area runners and walkers. Two (2) power-walkers, were startled when Ingalsbe came out of the bushes by the sidewalk naked, masturbating. Ingalsbe fled the scene in his unique blue and white pickup truck.

Additional evidence presented was that later – on the morning of September 30, 2016 – three (3) mothers were playing with their children at the Branson Rec-Plex playground. One of the women observed Ingalsbe under the pavilion pointing his phone at the playground with his genitals exposed, masturbating. Ingalsbe fled the scene in his unique blue and white pickup truck.

The range of punishment for the class A misdemeanor of sexual misconduct in the first degree is one (1) day to one (1) year in the Taney County Jail and/or a fine not to exceed $1,000.00. The jury did not get to hear evidence of Ingalsbe’s prior convictions for sexual misconduct, because Ingalsbe did not testify in his own defense at trial.