May 9th, 2025 Missouri News
St. Francois Co., Mo. (KFMO) - On Monday, May 5, 2025, 57-year-old Jeffrey Sawtelle was sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison by Judge Patrick King after being convicted earlier this year of Statutory Rape in the First Degree and Statutory Sodomy in the First Degree.
The convictions stem from the sexual assault of his 13-year-old step-granddaughter in 2019.
Sawtelle was found guilty by a St. Francois County jury on February 27, 2025, following a trial that revealed the disturbing nature of his crimes and their lasting impact on the survivor. At the sentencing hearing, the victim—now a 19-year-old college student—was present in the courtroom.
In an emotional moment, Assistant Prosecutor Marlo Lamb read the young woman’s Victim Impact Statement aloud. The statement described how the assault led to years of fear, anxiety, depression, and a loss of self-worth. She spoke of her struggle to rebuild her sense of safety and trust in the world, especially around men. “What was once a world of possibilities now feels small and unsafe,” the survivor wrote. Despite the trauma, she expressed determination to reclaim her life and not let the abuse define her future.
Prosecutor Lamb urged the court to impose the maximum sentence allowed by law, citing the egregious nature of the attack and the profound harm inflicted on the victim. Judge King agreed, sentencing Sawtelle to life in prison on each count, with the sentences to be served consecutively.
