Murder convict resentenced after nearly 40 years

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A man sentenced to life in prison for murder nearly 39 years ago in Ozark County has been given a new sentence. According to the Ozark County Times, 57-year-old Robert Greathouse came back before the court on Oct. 3rd, and Ozark County Circuit Judge Craig Carter resentenced him to 50 years after his original capital murder charge was amended to second-degree murder.

Greathouse was originally convicted of capital murder in December 1979 in the death of his uncle, Clayton Dawson. The murder occurred in Douglas County, but the case was transferred to Ozark County on a change of venue motion.

The resentencing came as a result of Miller v. Alabama, a United States Supreme Court case from 2012. The ruling stated a juvenile offender can’t be given the harshest punishment under the law unless the sentencing takes into account the defendant’s youth. The Missouri Supreme Court subsequently issued two opinions on the procedure for resentencing juvenile offenders. A juvenile can receive the maximum sentence under the law, but the first sentencer must be given a “scheme” to account for the offender’s youth. The law in 1979 required anyone convicted of capital murder to be sentenced to life with no parole until the defendant has served 50 years. According to Douglas County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Wade, no consideration was given for Greathouse’s youth when he was sentenced.

Greathouse has been incarcerated for 40 years and 1 month, and the Missouri Department of Corrections will determine when he’s eligible for parole. Wade anticipates if Greathouse is released, he’ll live in a men’s shelter in either Kansas City or St. Louis where he’ll be assisted with employment and taught basic life skills.

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