McClanahan found guilty of two counts of second-degree harassment in jury trial
Darrell McClanahan was found guilty by a Wright County jury of two counts of misdemeanor second-degree harassment in an Ozark County case dating back to 2021 following an April 18-19 trial in Hartville. He was originally charged with two counts felony-level first-degree harassment.
The jury recommended he be sentenced to 15 days in jail on each count. A sentencing hearing before Circuit Judge Craig Carter is set for 9 a.m. May 21 in Wright County.
McClanahan appeared with attorney Benjamin Arnold, and the state was represented by Prosecutor Matthew Weatherman.
The original probable cause statement in the case indicates that the allegations involve McClanahan’s YouTube channel, Missouri Battleflag, and videos he had posted to the social media account in 2021.
In particular, the video involved in the case is one in which McClanahan reportedly used photos of a local Ozark County teacher, her husband and their minor daughter.
The video insinuated that the teacher was a prostitute, and the video’s location was tagged as “Bunny Ranch Legal Nevada Brothel.”
The teacher told the sheriff’s office that it was false information, and she was distressed about the video and repercussions it might have with her employment at the school district. She said she was informed by school administration that parents had become aware of the videos.
The case was originally filed in Ozark County but was transferred to Wright County on a change of venue motion.
The state called Melanie Johns Oxley, Lauren Stehle, Ozark County Deputy Seth Miller, Tate Stehle and former Ozark County Deputy Kyle Hannaford to the stand to testify.
The defense called April McClanahan and recalled Deputy Miller, before Darrell McClanahan took the stand himself.
Other witnesses who had been subpoenaed for the trial but were excused after the parties agreed their testimony was not needed included: former Ozark County Deputy John Russo, Mark Thrift, Rory Smith, Elijah Morpeth, Ozark County Sheriff Cass Martin and former Ozark County Sheriff Darrin Reed.
The jury went into deliberation at 11:49 a.m. Friday and a little over 10 minutes later sent the court a message that said, “Do the two counts run consecutively, and what county will be served?” The court responded that the jury’s decision should be based upon their recollection of the evidence and the instructions of the court.
Jury returned the verdict at 12:30 p.m. that day.