Attorney General's News Release

September 2, 2008

Montgomery County jury commits Montgomery City man as sexually violent predator

Montgomery City, Mo. - A jury in Montgomery County on Thursday (Aug. 28) found Kenneth Garris to be a sexually violent predator (SVP) and committed him to the state treatment center in Farmington. Circuit Judge Kelly C. Broniec signed the judgment and commitment order.

The office of Attorney General Jay Nixon sought to have Garris (DOB - 12/14/72) committed as an SVP due to his 1997 conviction in Montgomery County for statutory sodomy 1st degree involving an eight-year old girl, for which he received 11 years in prison. Garris also pled guilty to deviate sexual assault involving a 10-year old girl in Franklin County in 1992, and served an additional three years in prison. A petition for civil commitment was filed July 11, 2007.

"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 104 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.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818