FORSYTH, Mo. -- A judge raised the bond of a man charged with molesting boys in Branson while he worked at Kanakuk Kamps, a Christian sports program that attracts campers from all over the country. Because of the higher bond, Peter Newman was still in the Taney County jail late Thursday afternoon.

Peter Newman was supposed to be in court at 10 a.m. in Taney County on Thursday. When Newman and his attorney, Tom Carver of Springfield, showed up late, Associate Circuit Court Judge Tony Williams cited Newman for "failure to appear." Newman told the judge that he was waiting in the hallway for his attorney to arrive.

Newman previously posted a $50,000 cash bond. The judge told him he had to post another $10,000 cash plus agree, by his signature, to forfeit another $90,000 if he doesn't show up for another hearing (a signature bond). So, in effect, the judge raised his bond from $50,000 to $150,000. So, Newman or his family has to come up with an additional $10,000 for him to get out of jail.

Also Thursday, the judge set Newman's preliminary hearing for Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. That's when prosecutors will try to show the judge that there's enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial court.
----

FORSYTH, Mo. -- A 23-yar-old woman from Cassville is accused of having sex with a 16-year old Branson High School student. Ann Fox is charged with statutory rape.

According to the probable cause statement used as the basis of the charge, the boy said Fox first sent him a nude picture of herself and then he and Fox had sex last March. The boy said he knew Fox because she worked with his mother.
----

SPRINGFIELD -- A woman from Springfield admitted in court this week that she had sex with a boy whom she used to baby-sit. Laura Kirkland pleaded guilty for one count of statutory rape and two counts of statutory sodomy.

Prosecutors say the crimes happened over a two-year period, starting when the victim was just 8 years old. A judge plans to sentence Kirkland on Jan. 15. She could get prison sentences of 10 years to life (30 years) for each crime.

Kirkland is a former teacher at Christian Schools of Springfield and a one-time childcare center supervisor.
----

SPRINGFIELD -- A Greene County jury convicted a man from Springfield for child abuse on Wednesday after deliberating for about three-and-a-half hours. George Biggs, 38, faces a sentence of up to one year in the county jail, or two to 15 years in a state prison.

Investigators said the abuse occurred in June 2007.

Circuit Judge Tom Mountjoy plans to sentence Biggs on Jan. 15. Biggs was charged as a prior and persistent offender. He has previous convictions for arson, assault and possession of a controlled substance.