Rural Mtn. Grove Man Convicted of Felony Child Molestation

On Tuesday, May 1, after an hour and 20 minutes deliberation, a Douglas County jury convicted Marvin D. Burke II, age 43, of rural Mtn. Grove, for the Class B felony of child molestation.

The charge was the result of a Douglas County grand jury indictment issued June 28, 2011, for an event which occurred 6½ miles south of Mtn. Grove in northeast Douglas County in February 2011.

The victim was 6 years old at the time and the allegations involved the alleged fondling of the female child’s buttocks, according to information released by Prosecuting Attorney Roger Wall.

Upon conviction, the charge provides for a prison term of not less than five years and not greater than 15 years.

The defendant waived jury sentencing and requested a sentencing assessment report be conducted by the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole.

Sentencing is set for 10 p.m. July 3 in front of Circuit Judge John Moody. The state of Missouri was represented by Douglas County Prosecuting Attorney Wall, and the defendant was represented by attorney Kevin Babcock of the 44th District public defender’s office.