Attorney General's News Release

October 31, 2008

Vernon County jury commits Nevada man as sexually violent predator

Nevada, Mo. - A jury in Vernon County on Wednesday (Oct. 29) found Terry Blackmon of Nevada to be a sexually violent predator (SVP) and committed him to the state treatment center in Farmington. Circuit Judge William J. Roberts signed the judgment and commitment order.

The office of Attorney General Jay Nixon sought to have Blackmon (DOB - 4/9/57) committed as an SVP due to his 1991 conviction in Vernon County for rape involving a five-year old girl, for which he received 15 years in prison. In addition, Blackmon pled guilty in 1990 to sexual abuse third degree in Vernon County involving a 21-year old woman and received two years probation. A petition for civil commitment was filed April 24, 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 110 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.