Accused Sex Offender’s Case Transferred to MO Supreme Court

Christopher Taylor, 41, Pottersville, will stand trial in the Missouri Supreme Court after requesting a change of judge from Howell County. Taylor, a former employee of the West Plains R-VII School District, was charged with felony sexual contact with a student, fourth degree child molestation, and first degree endangering the welfare of a child-sexual conduct. 

According to a release from the West Plains Police Department, Taylor was arrested on Feb. 22 by Howell County Sheriff's Department after a WPPD investigation prompted by a female student’s report that she had been sexually assualted by an employee of the school district. 

A probable cause statement filed by Detective Joe Neuschwander identifies Taylor as an “educator/coach” at West Plains High School. 

In a forensic interview with the Child Advocacy Center, the 16-year-old victim reported that she was helping Taylor in the Field House on Olden St. after returning from a sporting event when he entered the girls’ changing area and observed her in a state of undress. After she was dressed, he engaged her in wrestling moves while the two were alone and then grabbed her hips from behind and repeatedly behaved in an aggressive, sexual manner. 

He approached the victim on two occasions to tell her not to tell anyone about the assault. 

The school district was fully cooperative with the investigation and took immediate action on the employee, says the release from WPPD.

“Christopher Taylor is no longer affiliated or employed by the R-7 School District,” reads the release. 

Formal charges were filed against Taylor by the Howell County Prosecutor on Feb. 17. 

Taylor posted a $50,000 bond on Feb. 23, and his Motion for Change of Judge was filed on Feb. 28. His case was assigned to the Supreme Court on March 2. The original judge assigned in Howell County was the Hon. Steven Privette. 

Online records do not show any pending court dates in this case.