St. Joseph man receives multiple life sentences for charges including rape of a child, sodomy

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- A 33-year-old St. Joseph man received four life sentences in January for felony charges of child sex abuse that occurred for more than a year.

Johnathan Edward Sears received the maximum sentence of life in prison Jan. 26 from Circuit Judge Terry White on four separate counts, including 1st degree rape and three counts of 1st degree sodomy against a child less than 12 years old.

Sears will serve the life sentences concurrently plus an additional 10 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after being found guilty by a jury on six felony charges last December, including two counts of 2nd degree child molestation, crimes that occurred between January of 2022 and February 2023.

Sears was arrested in March 2023 on a warrant for charges in the case and was denied bond after pleading not guilty. The case reportedly involved multiple children less than 12 years old.

Court records show Sears was denied a motion for a new trial on Jan. 12 prior to sentencing.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecuting Attorney's Monica Morrey and Kristina Zeit.