A Jasper County jury has convicted Kody Clark-Mitchell, 34, of one count of first-degree statutory rape and three counts of first-degree statutory sodomy.
The case was tried this week in Jasper County Circuit Court in Joplin before Presiding Judge Dean Dankelson, Newstalk KZRG reported. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kurtis Droppa and Jasper County Prosecutor Theresa Kenney tried it for the state.
What the State Alleged
Prosecutors presented evidence that Clark-Mitchell raped and sodomized his nine-year-old stepdaughter in spring 2023. The child testified, as did her mother, a forensic interviewer, a nurse from the Children's Center, and Jasper County Deputy Jamison Cady, who investigated the case and interviewed the defendant.
A woman also testified that Clark-Mitchell sexually assaulted her when she was nine and he was a juvenile, many years before this trial. Clark-Mitchell did not testify.
The Defense Case
The defense called two forensic scientists from the Missouri State Highway Patrol lab. They testified that they found no DNA from the defendant on evidence law enforcement had submitted.
Defense lawyers argued that the child's testimony was not credible and that the absence of physical or scientific evidence was not enough to convict. The state argued that the child had no motive to lie and that her detailed account proved guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Verdict and the Jury's Years
A jury of six men and six women got the case at about 3 p.m. on November 10. It returned at 8:10 p.m. with a unanimous guilty verdict on all four counts.
The jury came back Wednesday morning for sentencing proceedings. After arguments, it deliberated about two more hours and returned 18 years on each count. The report also says Clark-Mitchell is to return to court for sentencing on January 25, 2026.
What the Prosecutor Said
Kenney thanked the jury for its time and careful consideration. She said the cases are difficult for everyone involved, "but especially for the young girl who first found the courage to tell her mom, and then remained steadfast throughout the lengthy process of the criminal justice system. We are grateful for her courage and cooperation."
In a separate sexual-assault trial, The Joplin Globe reported that a Jasper County jury acquitted Clark-Mitchell when he was 25. That jury, seven men and five women, deliberated about 40 minutes before clearing him; the accuser in that case was 23.
