Attorney General's News Release

September 26, 2008

Lawrence County jury commits Monett man as sexually violent predator

Mt. Vernon, Mo. - A jury in Lawrence County on Tuesday (Sept. 23) found Charles Saige to be a sexually violent predator (SVP) and committed him to the state treatment center in Farmington. Circuit Judge Larry W. Meyer signed the judgment and commitment order.

The office of Attorney General Jay Nixon sought to have Saige (DOB - 10/28/76) committed as an SVP due to his 1998 conviction in Lawrence County for statutory sodomy 1st degree and child molestation 1st degree involving a four-year old girl, for which he received concurrent sentences of 10 years and five years in prison. Saige also pled guilty in 1998 to child molestation 1st degree in Barry County involving a seven-year old girl, and received seven years in prison to run concurrent with his 10-year sentence. A petition for civil commitment was filed by Nixon's office on April 21, 2008.

"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 106 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 Press Secretary John Fougere.

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