Kirksville attorney pleads guilty in Saline County court

Tuesday, October 27, 2009
By KATHY FAIRCHILD/Staff Writer

Kirksville attorney Thomas R. Oswald, 84, pleaded guilty today in Saline County Circuit Court, a short time after jury selection had already begun in his trial. Judge Dennis A. Rolf presided in the case, which was transferred from Adair County in May 2008.

Oswald pleaded guilty to one count of class C felony statutory sodomy. After a sentencing report is filed, Oswald will be sentenced Feb. 17, 2010, in Lafayette County.

He had been charged with two counts of class C felony statutory sodomy and one count of class A misdemeanor furnishing or attempting to furnish pornography to a minor.

According to the arrest report, Oswald was accused by the parents of a then-15-year-old Kirksville youth of having sexual contact with their son for approximately a year, beginning in 2006.

Oswald's attorney is Joel Eisenstein of St. Charles.

Oswald had entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect; the trial was scheduled to last several days.

In a related case, Kirksville dentist Arnold Stephen Barber, 69, was indicted by a grand jury and charged with two counts of class C felony tampering with a victim or witness or attempting to tamper with a victim or witness in a felony prosecution. According to the indictment, Barber contacted attorney Seth Shumaker in February 2008 in an attempt to dissuade the attorney from assisting in Oswald's prosecution. Shumaker is representing Oswald's victim and his family. Barber's trial is scheduled for April 2010.

A civil case against Oswald, which asks damages of $250,000 or more, is also being pursued.

Oswald could be sentenced to seven years in Missouri Department of Corrections and a fine of up to $5,000.

Contact Kathy Fairchild at marshallhealth@socket.net

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The boy was 15 at the time and didn't see anything wrong with it?

-- Posted by ieatsuperglue on Thu, Oct 29, 2009, at 1:40 AM

This person should be locked up in Fulton forever! It will ruin that kid's life no matter what. Too bad but that kid should sue for damages and get a settlement that will pay for his therapy for the rest of his life.

Where are these "sick creatures" coming from? Preacher, and Lawyers and Priests OH MY!

-- Posted by movaldude on Tue, Oct 27, 2009, at 11:30 PM

84 yrs old!!!!! wow...

-- Posted by wheresthelove on Tue, Oct 27, 2009, at 10:32 AM