Wife of child molester guilty in witness tampering charge

JASPER, Mo. (AP) - The wife of a southwest Missouri man imprisoned for sexually molesting a young girl admitted to trying to keep the girl from testifying.

The Joplin Globe reports 31-year-old Audrey Taffner pleaded guilty Monday in a plea agreement with a five-year cap on any sentence she might receive.

Circuit Judge Dean Dankelson delayed formal ruling on the plea and ordered a sentencing assessment before her sentencing hearing July 1.

The defendant's husband, 30-year-old Jerred Taffner was sentenced in April to 15 years in prison with no chance of parole for molesting a child under the age of 12.

Investigators say Audrey Taffner was caught discussing ways to keep the girl from testifying during a jailhouse with her husband during a visit about a year ago. The conversation was recorded.

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