Melvin Fincher received a 15 year prison sentence that was suspended in favor of five years probation
CASSVILLE, Mo. — A Rolla man accused of paying for cattle with a bad check has been sentenced in Barry County Circuit Court.
Melvin J. Fincher entered an Alford plea on Aug. 11 in connection with the theft case. Under an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges prosecutors likely have enough evidence to secure a conviction.
Fincher was sentenced to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The court suspended execution of that sentence and instead placed him on five years of supervised probation.
He was also ordered to pay restitution to the victim.
Investigators said the case involved the purchase of 12 head of cattle in Barry County. Fincher allegedly wrote a $48,000 check for the livestock that was not good.
The case is not Fincher’s first involving stolen livestock.
Fincher also received probation in a separate livestock theft case last fall.
Under the suspended sentence in the Barry County case, Fincher will remain on supervised probation rather than immediately serving the 15 years in state prison.
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