A Wellington man is facing three life sentences after being found guilty on three counts of statutory sodomy.

According to Lafayette County Prosecuting Attorney Kristen Hillbrener, 34-year-old Steven Muller was convicted of sodomizing a child on multiple occasions between 2023 and 2024 during a trial on July 25, 2025. During the trial, law enforcement officers, a child forensic interviewer, the child’s mother and babysitters, and the child victim testified. The jury also heard from DNA analysts from the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Lab, where analysts testified that Muller’s DNA was found on the Victim’s underwear. Furthermore, testimony included that the victim had physical injuries on her genitals consistent with the disclosed acts of sexual assault.

After finding the defendant guilty on all charges, the jury recommended Muller serve life sentences on each of the three counts. At a hearing on September 9, the Honorable Joshua Taylor formally imposed each of the three life sentences and each life sentence will run consecutive to one another.

The case was investigated by the Wellington Police Department and the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department.