A convicted child molester has been released on supervised probation after serving only four months of his 10-year prison sentence and will make his home in Armstrong. Nelson Paul Thompson, 59, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree child molestation, both Class B felonies, on August 14, 2024, in Randolph County court. He walked out of the Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center on Friday.

Mr. Thompson will remain on supervised probation for five years, according to court records. He had previously worked as a corrections officer for the State of Missouri.

Mr. Thompson was arrested in May 2023 after allegations of a decade of sexual abuse of both his daughter and his stepdaughter. He was released on a $50,000 surety bond the following day.

On October 16, 2024, Mr. Thompson received two sentences of 10 years in the Department, to be served concurrently, meaning both would be served simultaneously. The sentences, which were agreed upon by Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Luntsford and Mr. Thompson’s attorney Adam Dowling, as part of the plea deal, included language that stated probation would be reconsidered once Nelson had completed 120 days of incarceration. Circuit 14 Presiding Judge Scott Hayes also requested a sex offender assessment.

“Upon completion of the assessment, Department of Corrections shall provide to the court a report on Defendant and may provide recommendations for terms and conditions of probation,” a court document states.

On February 5, the court authorized Mr. Thompson’s release after the assessment reported he is 0.37 percent likely to re-offend, a below-average risk.

“The above-named defendant/offender has completed the 120-day program pursuant to 559.115 RSMo. The court orders supervision by the Board of Probation and Parole effective 02-14-2025 for a term of 5 years,” court records state.

A hearing was held in Randolph County court on Thursday, during which time Mr. Thompson’s daughter and stepdaughter objected to his early release. One man was removed from the courtroom after the judge announced Mr. Thompson would go free. A social media campaign to pressure Judge Hayes was launched in the days leading up to the hearing and a change.org petition had garnered more than 2,000 verified signatures by Monday.

“He targeted and manipulated his own daughter and step daughter, starting in 2006 up until 2023,” the change.org petition states. “This was going on for almost 2 DECADES. He sexually abused his own blood starting when she was about 6 years old, stopping when she was 15. But he didn’t stop there. Nelson molested his step daughter multiple times in her life throughout the ages of 6-15. By a 50 year old ‘man’ who she thought she could trust.”

An online docket entry on February 14 said that no evidence was presented at the hearing. “Victim 1 stated she did not approve of the plea agreement. However, the fact of the plea agreement between the State and the Defendant was not refuted and is of record, in writing. Pursuant to the plea agreement, this Court is bound by Rule 24.02 to follow same. This Court holds that Defendant successfully completed the Sex Offender Assessment Program wherein his risk of recidivism is calculated at .37. In addition, Defendant's proposed home plan has been verified to comply with sex offender laws. Pursuant to the plea agreement between the parties, and in light of there being no evidence to the contrary, this court must follow the law and allow defendant to be released,” the docket entry reads.

Randolph County prosecutor Stephanie Luntsford said in an interview with the Advertiser on Friday that she was satisfied when Mr. Nelson was sentenced to 10 years in prison but wasn’t necessarily surprised when his release was announced just 120 into the sentence.

“Sometimes it does happen. I can’t predict which way that’s going to go,” she said.

Mrs. Luntsford also rejected online accusations that Mr. Nelson was released early due to favorable treatment by the Department of Corrections, for which he was previously employed as a supervisor.

“There are some various programs that an individual can be placed in, sentencing programs within the Department of Corrections…one of them being the Sex Offender Assessment Unit,” Mrs. Luntsford explained. “And so if an individual receives a disposition where they may be placed in one of those programs, there typically is a report that’s generated after the 120 days and a review conducted in which the person then may be released. There are certain criteria and guidelines that have to be followed along those lines.”

Outrage at Mr. Nelson’s early release has been palpable across the area. Vitriol posted online has escalated to calls for vigilante justice.

One of Mr. Nelson’s victims told this newspaper, under the condition of anonymity, that “the release of this monster after 120 days was a slap in the face to the victims.

“If I knew that this monster would only serve 120 days, I would have never spoken up. Justice was not served,” she said.

Mrs. Luntsford explained that while Mr. Nelson has been released from prison, he faces strict guidelines while on probation. “The supervision of sex offenders while they are out on probation is pretty stringent. For example, sporadically but incrementally, there are times they will have to take lie detector tests because their activities are going to be more stringently or strictly viewed. They are going to be given some supervision in programs tailored to a sex offense, tailored to maybe some of the issues that have been brought out in some of their assessments. Probation can include GPS or ankle monitoring. Once released from probation, he will have to register as a sex offender. Probation and parole will be keeping tabs on his activities, making sure he’s not involved in perhaps something he shouldn’t be.”

The details of Mr. Nelson’s probation had not been disclosed as of this writing. However, should he violate any of the conditions of his probation, he could be sent back to the Department of Corrections to serve out his prison sentence.

Mr. Nelson is scheduled to appear before Judge Hayes again on Wednesday, February 26, for a probation status hearing. The hearing is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in the Randolph County Justice Center in Huntsville.