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Kennett, Missouri · Friday, November 20, 2009
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Dunklin County man found guilty of forcible rape

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

(Photo)
In May 2008, Dewey Odell Hopper, Jr., who was recently found guilty of forcibe rape, was found and returned to the Dunklin County Justice Center just five days after escaping. File photo by Deanna Coronado
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A Dunklin County man was found guilty of forcible rape following two and a half hours of deliberation by a jury on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008.

Dewey Odell Hopper, Jr., 42, who was being held on charges of forcibly raping a 16-year-old developmentally disabled girl in Arbyrd, Mo., now faces a sentence of life imprisonment or a sentence of 10 to 30 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

On May 31, 2008, Hopper escaped from the Dunklin County Jail but was captured just five days later at a residence in Cardwell, Mo.

Hopper is currently serving a four year sentence for that offense, along with a five year sentence for tampering with judicial proceedings for an incident where he made threats to Circuit Judge Stephen Sharp, who was presiding over the rape case at the time.

"I'm happy that we will be able to keep this dangerous offender off the street for a long time," said Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Steve Sokoloff, who represented the state in the case.

Sentencing will be set after a Sentencing Advisory Report is completed.

Butler County Circuit Judge Mark Richardson conducted the trial after Sharp was required to excuse himself as a result of the threats.


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Why should this man, be put in Prison for so long? Three meals a day, cable television to watch,a free education, free medical....doesnt sound like justice to me for what he did.

Why should these ugly people get treated better than most of our senior citizens in this country?

I think our society has became to soft on offenders....its always been said, Poeple deserve second chances..... but do they really?

Will this little girl he hurt, get a do over... will she ever be able to go back and undo what he did to her? No.... so why should he get treated so well....

-- Posted by Concerned Parent Of Teenagers on Tue, Dec 9, 2008, at 3:08 PM

This trash should be sent to the gallows, preferably a hanging would work best. Waisting tax payer money on something that will never amount to more than a liability should be exterminated.

-- Posted by Texas Two Step on Tue, Dec 9, 2008, at 9:10 PM

America needs to stop trying to fix all the wrongs in the world. Send him to the death chamber---he will never be rehabilitated and will get out and do the same sick act again.

-- Posted by confused parent on Sat, Dec 13, 2008, at 8:12 AM

love see boy

-- Posted by katilyn on Wed, Feb 25, 2009, at 8:46 AM


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