Third Person Sentenced in Stone County Case

The third of four defendants in a child abuse case from Stone County has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.

William Dalton McClendon pleaded guilty to abuse or neglect of a child in connection with the neglect, malnutrition and caging of a 4-year-old boy at a home with a Billings address. The case was heard in Christian County on a change of venue. 

McClendon is described in a probable cause statement as the “boyfriend/roommate” of the child’s mother Dessa Barton. She pleaded guilty in January and was sentenced in March to 12 years on multiple child abuse and endangerment charges.

Another defendant, Richard Hilliker, was sentenced to five years in prison on child endangerment charges.

(From Ozarks First)