Deputies on the hunt for convicted sex offender

Sean A. Price
Sean A. Price

The Callaway County Sheriff's Office is looking for a Calwood man after he failed to appear at his sentencing hearing Friday.

Sean A. Price, 43, was found guilty on two counts of first degree statutory sodomy in Boone County Court on Jan. 16 and was scheduled to appear before Judge Christine Carpenter for sentencing Friday morning. When he failed to appear, Carpenter issued a warrant for his arrest. Bond has been set at $500,000, cash only.

This marked the second time this week that Price had failed to make an appearance before Carpenter.

Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney Chris Wilson said Price's sentencing hearing was originally scheduled for Monday, Feb. 25.

"He didn't appear then, and the judge had just received the sentencing assessment report that day and needed time to review it, so she continued the sentencing hearing to Friday," Wilson said.

Wilson said he had previously requested Carpenter to increase Price's bond, but had been denied "because he had a history of appearing."

He said Price's attorney, Kevin O'Brien, told the judge Friday that the last time he had contact with his client was approximately two weeks ago.

"At this point, the best information we have is he is on the run," Wilson said.

Callaway Sheriff's Deputy Jeff Harding said the case had occurred in Callaway County and was investigated by the Callaway County Sheriff's Office and had been transferred to Boone County on a change of venue.

According to Harding, the sheriff's office took the report of the sodomy on March 1, 2008. The indictment on the charges was originally filed in Callaway County in December 2010 before the change of venue was approved in June 2011.

Harding said Price still has a residence in Calwood, but "his whereabouts are not known at this time."

Price is described as a 43-year-old white male with short gray hair, 5'11'' and 170 lbs.

Anyone with information on Price or his whereabouts is asked to call the Callaway County Sheriff's Office at (573) 642-7291. Anonymous tips also may be made to Callaway County Crime Stoppers at (573) 592-2474.