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Jury Finds Man Guilty of Child Molestation and Statutory Sodomy

  • May 7
  • 2 min read
Fred Nelson booking photo May 6, 2026
Fred Nelson booking photo May 6, 2026

SPRINGFIELD, MO. — Fred Joseph Nelson, 71, of Springfield, was found guilty of nine felony sex offenses against children, including five counts of child molestation in the first degree, three counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree, and one count of attempted statutory rape in the first degree, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Greene County Circuit Court.


The case originated in September 2020, when Greene County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence regarding allegations of past sexual abuse. Three of Nelson’s daughters disclosed that they had been sexually abused by their father over a period of years when they were children, beginning when each was under fourteen years old. The abuse occurred at family residences in Greene County between 2003 and 2010.


The three-day jury trial began Monday, May 4, 2026, in Greene County Circuit Court. The jury began deliberations at 2:36 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, and returned its verdict at 6:32 p.m. that evening, finding Nelson guilty of nine of the twelve counts presented at trial: seven counts involving one victim and two counts involving a second victim.


The trial was presided over by the Honorable Jerry A. Harmison. Judge Harmison set sentencing June 10, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Nelson faces a potential sentence of multiple decades in the Missouri Department of Corrections, with several counts carrying lifetime supervision requirements upon any release.


“These victims showed remarkable courage in coming forward to report abuse that occurred years ago and in seeing this case through to a verdict. We are grateful for the dedicated work of the Greene County Sheriff’s Office investigators whose thorough investigation made this prosecution possible,” said Greene County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Patterson.


The case was investigated by the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jacqueline Ledezma-Ruelas and First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Elizabeth Fax.


 
 
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