On Monday, a jury in Montgomery County found a sodomite guilty of preying on his own stepdaughter. 44 year old James H. Ballard, who lived on Highway U in Warrenton, was charged with first degree statutory sodomy, threatening serious injury, displaying a deadly weapon, and giving the girl illegal drugs. He was also charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, one count of 2nd degree statutory sodomy, and three counts of felony use of a child in a sexual performance, causing serious emotional injury. Charges had been pending against Ballard since 2007 and new charges were filed on Monday for a total of seven counts.

Prosecutor Michael Wright told Kaspar Broadcasting News that Ballard abused his stepdaughter since she was thirteen, and she turned 14 during this nightmare. He is happy this man has been put away; “The jury did the right thing and so we’re obviously pleased with that.” The abuse of the girl occurred from April 2006 through January 2007 and Mike Wright says the girl showed immense courage in coming forward; “The girl told some police in St Louis County and that’s what got the ball rolling to come out here.” Ballard will be sentenced at the end of September and because he’s a prior sexual offender, his sentence on the first degree statutory sodomy charge will be life in prison without the chance of parole.