Attorney General's News Release

March 31, 2008

Lafayette County jury commits Higginsville man as sexually violent predator

Lexington, Mo. - A judge in Lafayette County on Thursday (March 27) found Roger Lister to be a sexually violent predator (SVP) and committed him to the state treatment center in Farmington. Circuit Judge John E. Frerking signed the judgment and commitment order.

The office of Attorney General Jay Nixon sought to have Lister (DOB - 10/23/59) committed as an SVP due to his 1996 conviction in Lafayette County for 1st degree statutory sodomy involving an eight-year old girl, for which he received 10 years in prison. Lister also pled guilty to a 1st degree sexual abuse charge involving an eight-year old girl in Jackson County in 1988, for which he served four years probation. A petition for civil commitment was filed March 8, 2006.

"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 97 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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