Sex offender granted probation on registration violation

Jeff Lehr, The Joplin Globe, Mo.
Updated ·1 min read

Jun. 21—A convicted sex offender residing in Joplin pleaded guilty this week to violating the state's registration law and was granted a suspended imposition of sentence.

Mark J. Kiefer, 44, pleaded guilty Monday in Jasper County Circuit Court to failing to keep his registration up to date with the local sheriff's office.

Kiefer's plea deal with the prosecutor's office called for a suspended imposition of sentence with five years of supervised probation and Judge Gayle Crane went along with the arrangement.

Kiefer was convicted in 2002 in Jasper County of sexual misconduct with a 5-year-old child when the defendant was 21, according to a probable-cause affidavit. He was arrested on the registration violation after a detective with the Jasper County sheriff's office learned on Dec. 18 that he had not been staying at his listed address of Watered Gardens ministry for more than 10 days.

Jeff Lehr is a reporter for The Joplin Globe.