Judge approves psychiatric exam for former Sarcoxie School Board member in child porn case

A psychiatrist will examine former Sarcoxie Board of Education member John R. Lewis Tuesday to determine if he was suffering from a mental disease or defect when he allegedly committed the crime of sexual exploitation of minors.

According to the order signed today by Judge David P. Rush, Boston psychiatrist Joseph Plaud, who has a long history of testifying for people charged with sex crimes will examine Lewis between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. If Plaud is not finished by that time, he will be allowed to continue the examination during the same time period the following day.

The motion filed by Lewis' attorney, Dee Wampler of Springfield, last week explained what the defense hopes to accomplish with the psychiatric examination "The purpose of this examination is to determine whether Lewis was, at the time of his the commission of the alleged acts constituting the offense, able to appreciate the nature and quality of the wrongfulness of his acts as a result of a mental disease or defect."'

Dr. Plaud has a long record of recommending freedom or light sentences for sex offenders, including violent ones. In the hundreds of cases in which Dr. Plaud has testified he has never once said that a sex offender cannot be rehabilitated.

More background on Dr. Plaud and the affidavit spelling out Lewis' alleged offenses can be found at this link.