Attorney General's News Release

November 16, 2007

Jury commits St. Charles man as sexually violent predator

St. Charles, Mo. — A jury in St. Charles County on Thursday (Nov.15) found Richard Croxton to be a sexually violent predator (SVP) and committed him to the state treatment center in Farmington. Circuit Judge Jon A. Cunningham signed the judgment and commitment order.

The office of Attorney General Jay Nixon sought to have Croxton (DOB — 5/23/45) committed as an SVP due to his 1995 conviction in St. Charles County for sodomy involving an eight-year old girl, for which he received ten years in prison. Croxton also has two previous convictions for indecency with a child in Victoria, Texas from 1983 and 1984, for which he received five years probation on each.

A petition for civil commitment was filed on November 21, 2003, and Croxton was committed as an SVP after a jury trial.

“My office continues to aggressively pursue the indefinite commitment of those who still pose a threat to the public safety of Missourians,” Nixon said. “While these offenders are civilly committed, they can receive 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 91 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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