Attorney General's News Release

June 26, 2007

Jackson County jury commits Kansas City man as sexually violent predator

Kansas City, Mo. — A jury in Jackson County on Wednesday (June 20) found John Morgan of Kansas City to be a sexually violent predator (SVP) and committed him to the state treatment center in Farmington. Circuit Judge Kathleen A. Forsyth signed the judgment and commitment order.

The office of Attorney General Jay Nixon sought to have Morgan (DOB - 8/29/60) committed as an SVP due to his 1993 convictions for sodomy involving a four-year old girl; two counts of 1st degree sexual abuse involving a 10-year old girl; one count of 1st degree sexual abuse involving an eight-year old girl; and one count of sodomy involving an 11-year old girl. Combined, Morgan received seven years in prison for his convictions. He also had a 1989 conviction for 2nd degree sexual abuse involving a 13-year old girl for which he served four months in the Jackson County Detention Center.

A petition for civil commitment was filed April 19, 1999, and Morgan was originally committed by jury as an SVP on July 2, 2003. After an appeal, the decision was reversed and remanded on November 22, 2005. Upon retrial, Nixon's office again had Morgan civilly committed as an SVP.

"My office will continue to aggressively pursue the indefinite commitment of those who still pose a threat to public safety," Nixon said. "While they are committed, these offenders can get the treatment they need."

Those committed by the court as sexually violent predators have the right to have their cases reviewed to determine if their mental abnormality has so changed that they are not likely to commit acts of sexual violence if released.

Currently, there are 85 sexually violent predators held in civil commitment in Missouri. Sexually violent predator commitments are handled by the Public Safety Division in Nixon's office. Missouri's sexually violent predator law took effect in January 1999.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to the Press Secretary.

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