Former Sarcoxie Board of Education member John Lewis, who pleaded guilty last week in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri to a child pornography offense wants his freedom while he awaits sentencing.
Lewis’ lawyer, Dee Wampler of Springfield, filed the motion today, noting that Lewis had been in the Christian and Greene County jails for the past seven months. The motion noted Lewis’ poor health.
Several months ago, the government asked that Lewis remain behind bars while awaiting trial, a motion that was granted by the judge, who wrote the following:
Regarding the potential for failure to appear, the defendant is a seasoned world-traveler who has visited approximately 30 foreign countries. He currently holds a passport, which he told the interviewing Pretrial Services Officer was stolen, then told the Court it was misplaced. More tellingly, the defendant recently applied for a new passport. Moreover, the defendant has substantial financial resources that could be put toward travel; his estate is worth approximately $2.2 million. The defendant also lacks significant family ties in the area. He was an only child, and his parents are deceased. He reported to the Pretrial Services Officer that he is not close to any of his extended family members. He is retired and thus lacks steady employment.
Regarding potential danger to the community, the Court notes that evidence was presented that the defendant exposed himself to a two sixteen-year-old boys who worked on his farm, and that the defendant possessed photographs of unclothed young men from the area, who may not have been above the age of consent at the time the photos were taken. Furthermore, the defendant is known to possess a significant number of firearms.
Based on all the foregoing, the Court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant is a risk of flight, and finds by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant is a danger to the community.
2 comments:
"the defendant possessed photographs of unclothed young men from the area, who may not have been above the age of consent at the time the photos were taken."
Was this even part of the charges he plead guilty to? Or does he just get those as freebies? Disgusting.
"the defendant possessed photographs of unclothed young men from the area, who may not have been above the age of consent at the time the photos were taken."
Was this even part of the charges he plead guilty to? Or does he just get those as freebies? Disgusting.
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