A Dexter man faces up to four life sentences after being found guilty Tuesday by a Stoddard County jury of molesting two children under the age of 5.
Billy D. Stitz, 65, was found guilty of three counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree and one count of statutory rape in the first degree perpetrated against two children under the age of 5, said Stoddard County Prosecutor Russ Oliver in a press release.
Charges were filed against Stitz in 2020.
Due to the sensitive nature of the crime and to protect the identity of the victims, no further details about the crime would be released by his office, Oliver said.
The jury deliberated until 9 p.m. on the second day of the trial before reaching a verdict, Oliver said.
“I am so proud of the brave victims in this case standing up to this predator,” he said. “There are no winners in cases like this. Multiple children have suffered greatly at the hands of the defendant.
“These cases are excruciatingly difficult to try, emotionally taxing on everyone involved, and painful for victims to relive as they tell of the abuse they have suffered.
“But we do those difficult things to bring justice and closure to the victims, to ensure that no other children suffer at the hands of the defendant and to protect the families of our community.”
Oliver thanked the jurors for their work.
“Our community owes them a debt of gratitude,” he said. “I would also like to thank the local Child Advocacy Centers, who provided support and counseling for the children as well as the families of the victims who stood by them in this difficult journey.”
Additionally, Oliver thanked Tim McCoy, investigator for the Stoddard County Prosecutor’s Office, Detective Eddie Holloway and the Dexter Police Department.