West Plains woman indicted on sex crimes

Nikita Steinburner, 35, of West Plains faces charges of incest, statutory sodomy, and endangering the welfare of a child following a grand jury indictment on Mar. 10. Charges were filed Mar. 1 regarding alleged instances in November 2022 when Steinburner sexually abused her own daughter.

West Plains Police Department opened an investigation into the defendant in Dec. 2022. According to a probable cause statement signed by Detective Joe Neuschwander, the accused’s ex-husband reported that she had sexually assaulted their nine-year-old daughter. 

In forensic interviews with the Child Advocacy Center, the victim disclosed the details of the Nov. 19, 2022 assault. The victim’s sister, aged twelve, was an earwitness, and later the outcry witness, to the assault, according to court documents. 

In interviews with police, Steinburner denied the allegations and, under the advice of an attorney, denied a polygraph test. 

The Howell County Prosecuting Attorney’s office filed charges against her on Mar. 1. Steinburner was arrested on Mar. 3 and posted a $25,000 bond the same day. On Mar. 6, she pled not guilty. Following the grand jury indictment last Friday, this matter is scheduled for arraignment on May 1 before the Honorable Steven Privette.