Carterville man's employers, family, friends ask judge for leniency in meth sentencing

The government wants a 44-year-old Carterville man to spend 19 years behind bars for possession with meth with intent to distribute, but family and friends are doing their best to give the judge a look at a different side of Cody Wayne Goucher.

In a sentencing memorandum filed today in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Springfield, 12 people including former employers, co-workers, a coach and family members, submitted letters asking for leniency.

The letters include testimonials to his work ethic, his reliability not only in paying his rent, but in making improvements on his home, his willingness to work long hours and do whatever needed to be done at his job and his paying for man to get a prosthetic leg.

One of Goucher's former girlfriends praised him for helping her kick her meth problem and for encouraging her son to attend the Missouri Southern Police Academy and become a Webb City police officer.

A couple of the letter writers noted that Goucher always paid child support for his two children on time and would not be able to pay for their support if he is in prison.

The government's sentencing memorandum, which was filed Wednesday cited not only Goucher's present crime, but his long history of criminal activity.

The defendant’s criminal history includes six prior felony convictions and numerous misdemeanor or other convictions, and is diversified to include felony property crimes, felony drug crimes, and felony and misdemeanor acts of assault and violence.

In 2004, he committed the acts that resulted in his first three felony convictions. He was convicted of second-degree domestic assault after he threatened his girlfriend with a firearm, put the firearm to her chin and pulled the trigger, though a bullet was not fired.

That same year, he was arrested and later convicted for being in possession of a stolen motorcycle and possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Upon release from his incarceration sentences, he violated his parole and was returned to prison for possessing Xanax without a prescription, as well as driving while intoxicated.

After serving more time in the department of corrections, the defendant was later convicted of two additional instances of domestic assault, two instances of violating an order of protection, felony receiving stolen property, and felony possession of methamphetamine.

The defendant has been leading a life of crime for more than two decades. Most concerning to the Government are his violent, assaultive acts or threats made to girlfriends and law enforcement personal.

Goucher's sentencing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday in Springfield.