Theodosia couple found guilty of statutory sodomy of 8-year-old girl


David and Tiffany Bauer. Photo courtesy of Ozark County Jail.

Theodosia-area husband and wife defendants David Bauer, 55, and Tiffany Bauer, 33, were convicted of one count of first degree statutory sodomy of a child younger than 12. The Jan. 8 verdict came from Associate Judge Elizabeth Bock after the judge took the case under advisement following a Nov. 2, 2017, court trial. Bock found the Bauers not guilty of an additional charge of statutory rape. 

Basically, statutory sodomy is considered a deviant sexual act. Statutory rape is a non-deviant sexual act, according to internet sources. 

A sentencing assessment report, to be prepared by the Missouri Department of Corrections Board of Probation and Parole, that includes a recommended sentence based on the offenders’ risk level, nature and severity of the offense, prior criminal history and other relevant factors, was ordered and should be accessible to Bock before the Bauers’ sentencing hearing at 11 a.m. March 19.

 

The allegations

The case came to light in April 2015 after the Missouri Division of Children’s Services received a hotline call alleging educational neglect for a girl who had lived with the Bauers from August 2014 to March 2015 when she was 8 years old. The hotline call, received shortly after the girl moved to Branson to live with her father, alleged that the girl had forgone public school or homeschooling while she lived with the Bauers in Theodosia. When a children’s services worker went to a Branson-area school to speak with the girl about the lack of schooling while she lived with the Bauers, she reportedly told the worker she had been involved in sexual acts with David while Tiffany was present. 

An interview was set up with the child at the Child Advocacy Center, and the girl reportedly detailed sexual intercourse and other sexual abuse in detail, including details about pornography and toys that were used. The girl also used an anatomical drawing of a human to point out and describe the abuse to the Children’s Advocacy Center worker. When asked how often the abuse occurred, the girl told the worker, “Everyday. Everyday. Everyday.”

Ozark County Chief Deputy Winston Collins testified at the trial that the Bauers were fully cooperative with law enforcement during the course of the investigation. Both David and Tiffany have adamantly denied all allegations and said they believe the child was coached by the girlfriend of the girl’s father to report the allegations. 

 

Possible sentencing

Missouri Revised Statute 566.062 details the punishment for a defendant who has committed the offense of statuary sodomy in the first degree. The statute says that if convicted of statuary sodomy in the first degree involving a victim younger than 12, the sentencing can range from 10 years in prison to life imprisonment. Defendants sentenced under this statute are also not eligible for parole until 85 percent of the sentence is served. 

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423