Ozark man sentenced to 40 years in prison for sexually abusing a child

An Ozarks man convicted of sexually abusing a child in Greene County was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Friday, May 31.

Aaron R. Azar, 34, was found guilty of first-degree child abuse, third-degree child abuse, attempted enticement of a child, first-degree sexual battery and attempted sexual battery in March 2024. Azar was sentenced in a single-judge trial by Greene County Circuit Court Judge Todd Myers.

According to the probable cause statement, the victim underwent a forensic interview at the Child Advocacy Center. During that interview, the victim admitted that Azar had sexually abused her for years.

The investigator noted that Azar had been arrested in Camden County in 2013 on sexual assault and child abuse charges, but the prosecutor had dropped the case because the victim no longer wanted to cooperate with investigators.

“(Azar) should never have the opportunity to create another victim again,” Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Fax said at the sentencing. “These are the most heinous crimes a human being can commit, a crime against a child – the most vulnerable group of people in our society.”

Azar was originally arrested in January 2021 and has been held in the Greene County Jail since then. He remains in jail awaiting transport to a Missouri Department of Corrections prison.

Myers sentenced Azar to 10 years for Count I, first-degree child molestation, a Class B felony; 10 years for Count II, attempted enticement of a child; 15 years for Count III, first-degree sodomy; 10 years for Count IV, third-degree child molestation, a Class C felony; and 15 years for Count V, first-degree sodomy.

Pursuant to Missouri law and sentencing guidelines, counts I, II, and IV are to be served concurrently but consecutively with counts III and V. Count III must be served after count V.

Jackie Rehwald

Jackie Rehwald is a reporter for the Springfield Daily Citizen. She covers public safety, courts, homelessness, domestic violence and other social issues. Her office number is 417-837-3659. More from Jackie Rehwald