Cuthbertson pleads guilty to property damage

Brian W. Cuthbertson pleaded guilty to first-degree property damage during the Jan. 8 Ozark County Circuit Court session. He admitted to knowingly damaging another person’s motor vehicle. 

Cuthbertson was sentenced to 4 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, SES and 5 years probation. An SES, or suspended execution of sentence, means a defendant will be sentenced to a prison term but will be placed on probation and will not go to prison unless he violates the terms of that probation.

According to a plea agreement, charges of second degree assault and armed criminal action were dismissed.

According to a probation violation hearing held on June 20, Cuthbertson had been serving time in the Ozark County Jail when he was released and picked up from the jail by one of the victims in the afternoon. According to testimony from both victims, Cutbertson became intoxicated and attacked the male victim, holding him down and squeezing his head.

“My two kids were there,” said the male victim during the hearing. “He was squeezing my head, and I couldn’t get away from him.” 

The man said he was eventually able to fight Cuthbertson off and told him to leave.

Both victims testified that Cuthbertson got into his truck, backed up and accelerated into the man’s truck. The female victim said she saw Cuthbertson drive into the truck three times and also attempt to drive into the male victim. She said the third time Cuthbertson backed up and put his truck in drive, he attempted to drive into both victims.

“I had to jump out of the way,” said the female victim.