Stark City man sentenced to 20 years for sex crimes against 7, 8 and 10-year-olds

(From the Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's Office)

A Stark City man has entered a guilty plea to two counts of Statutory Rape in the First Degree, two counts of Statutory Sodomy in the First Degree, and one count of Child Molestation in the First Degree for sexual assaults in relation to three victims in 2024. 

Matthew S. Stewart, 32, was sentenced to 20 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on each count by Judge Kevin Selby of the 40th Judicial Circuit. 

The plea was entered into under North Carolina v. Alford, meaning the defendant did not admit guilt in committing the crimes but did admit the Prosecuting Attorney has sufficient evidence against him to result in a guilty verdict. 

 These offenses were discovered when the victims, aged 7, 8 and 10 at the time of the offenses, disclosed to forensic interviewers at the Children’s Center that the defendant had sexual intercourse and deviate sexual intercourse with the two youngest victims and deviate sexual intercourse with the third victim in January of 2024. 

 “Matthew S. Stewart will be in prison where he belongs for the next two decades. We take these cases very seriously, and always attempt to weigh the continued trauma that the criminal justice system can sometimes inflict on victims with our pursuit of justice and holding these abusers accountable. 

"This particular defendant took advantage of these young victims after grooming them, and while no sentence feels sufficient, we hope this resolution provides closure for these children and their families,” said William Lynch, Newton County Prosecuting Attorney. 

“We will continue to make an example out of those who harm children in our community.” This case was investigated by the Newton County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Children’s Center of Southwest Missouri and prosecuted by Mitchell Cross and William Lynch of the Newton County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.