Alleged child abuser sentenced to seven years for probation violation

Jan. 17--A Moberly man accused of abusing a 10-month-old child, who had to be airlifted to a St. Louis children's hospital, will have to defend his case from prison after he was sentenced to seven years Wednesday for violating his probation on a 2015 assault conviction

Zachary Mohr, 23, will serve seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for violating his probation on a 2015 second-degree assault charge, which is unrelated to his two pending felony charges of child abuse involving serious physical injury and first-degree harassment and two misdemeanor charges of fourth-degree domestic assault and second-degree property damage.

Mohr appeared in court Wednesday for a probation status hearing. He requested that his five-year probation term from the 2015 assault be reinstated despite having failed to report to his parole officer twice and being charged with two felonies while on probation. Mohr's attorney, Randolph County Public Defender Edward Guinn, argued that Mohr was not provided adequate programs to help rehabilitate him while on probation. He cited a period of homelessness and unemployment for Mohr while he was on probation.

"None of this was ever intentional," Mohr told Presiding Circuit Judge Scott Hayes while arguing his probation should be reinstated.

Mohr argued that him being homeless made it hard to keep up with his probation and that he wanted a chance to prove he can be a productive member of society.

Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Luntsford pointed out a number of violations that Mohr incurred while on probation, including failure to report with his parole officer and four criminal charges.

"[Mohr] was not doing well on probation already," Luntsford said. "It's very clear that probation is really not an option at this point."

The hearing featured testimony from three Moberly police officers who recounted details from the two days surrounding Mohr's child abuse charge, as well as form Mohr's mother involving the two misdemeanor charges

Hayes revoked Mohr's probation, stating that Mohr showed he had not taken responsibility for his own actions.

ecliburn@moberlymonitor.com

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