The Reporter covers Miller, Morgan and Camden County in Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks and is published once per week on Wednesdays.

Published August 1, 2018

Linn Creek man found guilty of sexual offenses

CAMDEN COUNTY – A Linn Creek man has been sentenced to a lengthy prison stay on multiple sex offenses.

According to the Camden County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (CCPAO) Andrew Wayne Lester was found guilty on April 17 of this year. He was convicted by a jury on five counts of Statutory Sodomy in the First Degree, involving a child under the age of twelve.

Lester was sentenced last week to twenty years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on each of the five counts of Statutory Sodomy in the First Degree.
The sentences are to be served concurrently.

The CCPAO said the investigation into Lester’s crimes began when a child under the age of twelve, known to Lester, reported inappropriate contact to a trusted adult.

“The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney would like to thank the adults in this case who reported the child’s disclosure, Katie Stewart and Casey Cox for their work on behalf of Children’s Division, Stephanie Dominque for her work as a sexual assault nurse examiner, Diana Sederwall for her work with Kids’ Harbor, and Deputies Stacy Eden and Josh Stockton with the Camden County Sheriff’s Office,” a spokesman said.

Prosecuting Attorney Heather Miller thanked the victim and their caregivers in this case.

“Their unrelenting courage is what made this conviction possible,” Miller said. “This child made the conscious decision to speak out - not only to stop this assault, but to protect those younger children who could not speak for themselves. I am lucky to have known them and I am humbled by their bravery.”

Miller asks that if a child discloses abuse to you please contact the Children’s Division Hotline at 1-800-392-3738.

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