Willis gets maximum sentence for felony elderly exploitation

Willis, 51, who served as his own attorney, was convicted in February. The sentence imposed is the maximum possible.

He was found guilty of systematically looting the assets of his elderly mother, following the death of his father in April 2006. Willis has already served 18 years in prison on a federal kidnapping charge.

Saline County Prosecuting Attorney Donald G. Stouffer said Willis left his mother destitute after she signed her house over to him. Willis then used the house to obtain loans in excess of $100,000, and distributed at least some of the money to friends he'd made while in prison.

In his closing arguments at the trial, Willis claimed his mother had given him the house, and that he was intending to "fix it up" when his arrest in November 2006 interrupted the flow of money.

Stouffer said the trial was made very complex by a "blizzard" of paper and financial calculations needed to show how Willis had managed to "outscheme" a number of local people who loaned him money.

Stouffer had high praise for the efforts of Marshall Police Officer Jill Markes and Kim Chastine of the Missouri Division of Senior Services for their work investigating the case.

"Both … recognized … Willis was a danger to his mother and other elderly residents of Marshall," he said.

A December 2007 trial ended in a mistrial when Willis' then-attorney, Alice K. Wasson of the Pettis County public defender's office, asked for the ruling after several jurors observed Willis in shackles as he was being walked back to the courtroom after a lunch break.

Stouffer was not available Monday morning for comment on Willis' sentencing.

Contact Kathy Fairchild at marshallhealth@socket.net