Attorney General's News Release

March 21, 2008

St. Louis County judge commits St. Louis man as sexually violent predator

Clayton, Mo. — A judge in St. Louis County on Wednesday (March 19) found Michael McCord to be a sexually violent predator (SVP) and committed him to the state treatment center in Farmington. Circuit Judge Gary M. Gaertner, Jr. signed the judgment and commitment order.

The office of Attorney General Jay Nixon sought to have McCord (DOB – 5/19/58) committed as an SVP due to his 1998 conviction in St. Louis County for two counts of child molestation involving a three-year old male, for which he received seven years in prison. McCord also pled guilty to a sodomy charge involving a five-year old male in Jackson County in 1991, for which he served five years probation.

A petition for civil commitment was filed Dec. 16, 2005, and McCord was committed as an SVP after his stipulation to the judge.

“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 96 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