Woman pleads guilty to child sex crimes in Jefferson City

A Jefferson City woman won’t spend any time in prison after admitting to sex crimes against multiple children. Misti Fitzwater pleaded guilty to five different felonies Thursday .

A judge suspended Fitzwater’s sentence and placed her on parole. Judge Robert Schollmeyer was very clear that he did not want to have to revisit the issue with her, saying “If there is a violation that is alleged, you and I will see each other again. You do not want that to happen.”

Judge Schollmeyer went on to say, “If you and I see each other in this setting again, I assure you that I will do everything that is necessary to see that these sentences will be actually executed.”

Fitzwater pleaded guilty to one charge of statutory rape, two of statutory sodomy and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

She was charged after having sex with two separate underage partners and allowing them to smoke marijuana in her car.

Judge Schollmeyer sentenced the maximum amount of prison time for each count, adding up to 35 years. As part of the plea agreement, Fitzwater was placed on five years of supervised probation. During that time, Fitzwater is forbidden from contact with any child 17 years or younger. That condition of her probatioon does not include her own family members.

The judge says this conviction will not affect Fitzwater’s custody over her children in any way.

ORIGINAL STORY: A Jefferson City woman accused of sex crimes involving children pleaded guilty on all five counts Thursday morning in Cole County court.

Misti Fitzwater is charged with five felonies, including statutory sodomy, statutory rape and endangering a child.

Her trial was set to start on Thursday before she entered the plea. The judge suspended her sentence of 35 years for all charges and put her on five years probation. Under the terms of the deal, she can keep custody of her children but is not allowed to have contact with anyone under the age of 18.