Pettis County Man Sentenced to Life in Prison

A Pettis County man will spend life in prison for molesting six young men between 2008 and 2012.  David Donahue, 42, Sedalia, was charged last July with statutory sodomy in the first and second degree, child molestation and attempt to commit statutory sodomy.  He entered guilty pleas to six charges in January.   The court ordered a sentence assessment report and scheduled a sentencing hearing for today.

At the sentencing hearing, I recommended life sentences on the three counts which carried that possible punishment, while defense counsel suggested sentences near the minimum of 10 years.  Several family members spoke on behalf of the victims.  Circuit Judge Robert L. Koffman imposed the life terms, noting that the victims will bear the burden of the crimes throughout their lives.

The defendant was sentenced to the maximum terms of seven and four years on the remaining three counts, which carried a shorter punishment due to the ages of the victims.

Pettis County Sheriff’s Sgt. Tollie Rowe and Child Safe of Central Missouri deserve the credit for the successful prosecution.  The victims, who were between the ages of 10 and 16 when the crimes occurred, were interviewed at Child Safe of Central Missouri.  Sgt. Rowe then completed the investigation, which included an interview with Donahue, who confessed his crimes.

Press release provided by Jeff Mittelhauser.