SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that three southern Missouri men have been indicted by a federal grand jury, in separate and unrelated cases, for failing to register as sex offenders.

According to the indictments, which were returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield, Mo., on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, each of the defendants is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act. They are each charged with failing to register or update their registration as sex offenders after crossing state lines to enter Missouri.

John Mark Phillips, 47, of Springfield, allegedly failed to register in Greene County, Mo., between March 28 and May 25, 2011. Phillips has a 1995 conviction in Christian County, Mo., for sexual abuse in the first degree.

Stevenson G. Harrison, 30, of Springfield, allegedly failed to register in Greene County between May 13, 2010, and June 15, 2011. Harrison has 1996 convictions in Washington County, Va., for three counts of aggravated sexual battery.

Richard Ray McLendon, 32, of Joplin, Mo., allegedly failed to register in Jasper County, Mo., between July 30, 2010, and June 15, 2011. McLendon has a 2007 conviction in Polk County, Ark., for sexual assault in the second degree.

These cases are being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver. They were investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service.

Phillips cautioned that the charges contained in these indictments are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

Return to Top