MARIES COUNTY — Circuit Judge Zachary Armfield ordered June 29 that Brian Keith Curtis, 56, of St. James, serve 10 years in prison for the sexual abuse of his stepdaughter, who was under 14 years old.

However, Matthew Crowell, Curtis’ attorney, filed a motion to reconsider June 30, but Armfield denied the motion during a July 1 hearing.

Curtis pleaded guilty March 2 in a plea deal with Prosecuting Attorney Anthony (Tony) Skouby. Armfield also sentenced Curtis to the Sex Offender Assessment Program (SOAP) for 120 days, dismissed counts 2-10, and ordered him to pay $68 to the Crime Victim’s Compensation Fund.

The original charges were one count of statutory rape, three counts of statutory sodomy, one count of kidnapping and five counts of statutory incest. Detective Dale Harp said in his probable cause statement that the events occurred between 2003-08 at Curtis’ home.

The investigation started in July 2024 when the victim reported the crime, and in August 2024, Associate Circuit Judge Kerry G. Rowden issued the warrant for Curtis’ arrest.

During SOAP, the Missouri Department of Corrections evaluated Curtis’ risk of reoffending and recommended his release. However, Skouby countered and said that Curtis did not admit to some of the more serious acts that he committed.

“I was unhappy with that report because in that report, he did not come clean with everything that it was that he did,” Skouby said.

Skouby also said that the dropped charges were because the victim and her brother gave different stories. This would make it more difficult to prove to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt on a crime over 15 years old. Also knowing how hard the trial would be for the victim, he used the plea deal to ensure the conviction.

“I believe they happened without a doubt. It’s not what you believe. It’s what you can prove,” Skouby said.