On September 2, 2023 the Callaway County Prosecutor’s Office released the following press release regarding a Callaway County Sheriff’s Office investigation from 2021.
On Thursday, August 31, 2023, a Callaway County Jury found Mark Randall Pullum guilty of Assault in the First Degree and Burglary in the First Degree after a two-day trial in the new Callaway County Justice Center. Judge Joshua Devine presided over the proceedings.
Pullum was charged with unlawfully entering the home of a neighbor and committing a vicious assault that permanently blinded the left eye of the victim.
Following the guilty verdict, the State asked the jury to recommend the defendant be sentenced to a prison sentence that would protect this community from the defendant for as long as possible.
The jury responded by recommending a sentence of 25 years for Assault in the First Degree and a sentence of 10 years for Burglary in the First Degree. At the State’s request, Judge Devine revoked the defendant’s bond following the trial. The defendant will be held without the possibility of a bond until his sentencing hearing before Judge Devine on September 29th at 10:00 AM.
This trial marks the first jury trial conducted in the new Callaway County Justice Center since its official opening on May 9th of this year. “The leap forward in courtroom technology, the increased secure spaces for victims and jurors, and a building layout that promotes security and efficiency has enhanced our ability to do the work of justice in Callaway County,” said Prosecuting Attorney Ben Miller. “I cannot express enough our gratitude and sincere appreciation to the citizens of Callaway County for supporting the passage of the law enforcement sales tax that made our new Justice Center possible. We also are grateful to all of the incredibly dedicated employees of Callaway County — public servants who work tirelessly serving our community.”
The case was investigated by the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office and was tried by Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney Ben Miller