Sentencing hearings rescheduled due to winter weather

Three sentencing hearings in Ozark County Court criminal cases scheduled for last week have been rescheduled due to the winter weather last week. 

Jordan Haden, who was found guilty by a Wright County jury of second-degree assault and resisting arrest, had his Feb. 17 sentencing hearing continued. The case was originally reset to March 8, but online records indicate Associate Judge Elizabeth Bock, who is assigned to the case, was notified that Circuit Judge Craig Carter has an Douglas County jury trial that day and will need the entire second floor of the courthouse to conduct the trial while abiding by covid restrictions.

Bock ordered Prosecuting Attorney John Garrabrant and Public Defender Yvette Renee Duvall to submit available dates to the court so the judge could schedule the hearing when everyone involved can attend. 

The case is in connection with a Dec. 2, 2017, incident in which Haden is alleged to have broken an officer’s jaw and attempted to flee the scene. 

Taylor L. Barao, who pleaded guilty to child molestation (victim younger than 17 with an offender more than four years older than the victim) in September 2020, was also scheduled to have a Feb. 17 sentencing hearing in Douglas County, where the case was transferred on a change-of-venue motion. 

A new hearing date has not yet been scheduled. Bock, who is also assigned to Barao’s case, has asked Garrabrant and Public Defender Lauren Kate Welborn to submit available dates. 

A sentencing assessment report, a report prepared by the Missouri Department of Parole that compiles information regarding risk and related factors necessary to determine an appropriate sentencing decision, was received Dec. 31, 2020. 

Michael McCullough, who pleaded guilty to two counts of child molestation in November 2020, was scheduled for a sentencing hearing for Feb. 18. The hearing was continued for 9 a.m. April 7. 

A sentencing assessment report was received Dec. 29, 2020. 

The case is in connection with the alleged assault of a 12-year-old girl who told officials McCullough had touched her in a sexual manner for three years at that time. 

During an interview with a representative from the Child Advocacy Center in West Plains, the girl reportedly described incidents of alleged sexual touching and actions by McCullough that had occurred at Hootin an Hollarin three years earlier, when she was 9, and also at a Wasola residence when she was 11 and again in November 2018 when McCullough was at her residence.