Church service attendance allegedly broke bond conditions

BY KYLE TROUTMAN ktroutman@cassville-democrat.com

A second motion to revoke bond has been filed in the case of Wesley Roller, who is accused of multiple sex crimes across three cases.

Roller, born in 1950, of Washburn, is charged with sodomy – victim less than 14 years old and first-degree sexual abuse in one case; patronizing a sexual performance by a child, fourth-degree child molestation and misdemeanor second-degree sexual misconduct in a second case; and second-degree statutory sodomy and misdemeanor second-degree child molestation in a third case.

Amy Boxx, Barry County prosecutor, filed the motion on Sept. 19, alleging Roller was seen in a public place, attending church services, where children were present on Sept. 15 and Sept. 19.

A motion hearing is scheduled for Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. in the courtroom of Judge David Cole in Stone County, where the case is being adjudicated after a change of venue.

John Lewright, Roller’s attorney, filed an answer to the motion on Sept. 25, noting five points: “1. Defendant, [Roller], has not violated his condition of bond by attending church.

2. The defendant is currently on bond and is entitled to the full presumption of innocence.

3. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right to freely exercise one’s religion.

4. In my 45 years practicing law, I have never seen or heard of a violation of bond condition for attending church.

5. Defendant was not alone with any person under the age of 18, he was not at an entertainment event, he was attending church service.

Wherefore, the defendant prays the court deny state’s motion to revoke bond.”

The revocation motion is filed in all three cases. According to Danny Boyd, Barry County sheriff, Roller was booked at 9 a.m. and released at 5 p.m. when arrested the first time, and when arrested again for the third case with the $50,000 bond, he was held in the Barry County jail from Feb. 11-18.

He was arrested in January and posted $5,000 bonds in May for each of the first two cases. He was released from jail in July after posting a $50,000 cash bond in the third case.

Boxx filed the first bond was filed in early September after photos were posted on Facebook showing Roller holding an infant while attending a public sporting event.

That motion was denied, and Cole declined comment on the decision, saying he cannot comment on specific cases or rulings.

A jury trial for all three of Roller’s cases is set for Feb. 23-25, 2026, in Cole’s courtroom in Stone County. The pre-trial conference is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2026.