Thursday, April 14, 2022

Jury acquits longtime area music instructor on statutory sodomy charge

 


A McDonald County jury found a longtime area music teacher not guilty of statutory sodomy Wednesday at the conclusion of a two-day trial.

Robert Andrew Pommert, 63, who has worked as an instructor at Ozark Christian College and Crowder College and taught guitar at Palen Music in Joplin for more than 20 years, was initially charged with statutory rape and statutory sodomy.

The case was heard in McDonald County on a change of venue from Newton County.

The Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office dismissed the rape charge after the alleged victim, who was three years old in 2018, had difficulty recalling details during cross examination.

The witness provided details on the statutory sodomy charge and the prosecution also presented testimony from a Children's Center therapist.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

There are no words