Newman was sentenced to two life terms plus 30 years, to be served consecutively. Consecutive sentencing means that sentences are served one after the other (as opposed to concurrent sentencing, where the sentences are served at the same time, and the defendant is released after the longest term ends).

In Missouri, a life sentence is calculated to be thirty years.

Newman's “prison commitment” is 90 years (two life sentences valued at 30 years, plus an additional thirty years).

The “prison commitment” (number of years sentenced) is different from the “minimum prison term,” which is the amount of time an offender must serve in prison before they are eligible for parole.

The “minimum prison term” for offenders who are serving consecutive sentences cannot exceed the minimum term for an ordinary life sentence. Thus, although Newman's sentence “prison commitment” is 90 years, his “minimum prison term” is equal to 50% of one ordinary life sentence, which is fifteen years.

While Missouri law allows Newman to become eligible for parole after 15 years, there is also a law that prohibits anyone serving multiple consecutive life terms, or more than 45 years, from serving any less than 15 years (referred to as the “45-year-rule”).

Missouri Law References:

• Parole for Consecutive Sentences
• The maximum term for parole eligibility is the same as one ordinary life sentence (unless it is classified as non-ordinary by RSMo 558.019). Newman's sentences are “ordinary.”
• RSMo 217.690 mandates that “when considering parole for an offender with consecutive sentences, the minimum term for eligibility for parole shall be calculated by adding the minimum terms for parole eligibility for each of the consecutive sentences, except the minimum term for parole eligibility shall not exceed the minimum term for parole eligibility for an ordinary life sentence.”

• Time Served Before Parole Eligibility
• Offenders are eligible for parole after serving 50% of one sentence. The “minimum prison term” (time served before eligible for parole) for an ordinary life sentence is 15 years (50% of 30 years).
• In Missouri, “the minimum prison term which the offender must serve shall be fifty percent of his or her sentence or until the offender attains seventy years of age, and has served at least forty percent of the sentence imposed, whichever occurs first.”

• Parole for Multiple Life Sentences (The “45 Year Rule”)
• Consecutive sentences totalling 45+ years must serve a minimum of 15 years before being eligible for parole.
• “Offenders serving life or multiple life sentences and for particular term consecutive sentences of forty-five (45) years or more may not be eligible for parole until a minimum of fifteen (15) years has been served, except where statute requires more time to be served.”

Once a parole hearing is held, it takes approximately 8-12 weeks for the Parole Board to make a decision.

In the case that parole is denied, like it was in the case of the first hearing in September 2024, Newman will be eligible for a “reconsideration hearing,” shall be conducted every one (1) to five (5) years at the board's discretion until a release date has been established.

Evidence from the initial parole hearing carries forward to reconsideration hearings, meaning that the statements and petition signatures gathered for Newman's hearing on September 25, 2024, and between that date and the next hearing, will be applicable to future hearings.

Once a parole hearing is held, it takes approximately 8-12 weeks for the Parole Board to make a decision.

In the case that parole is granted, Newman would go to an offender treatment program, managed by the Division of Offender and Rehabilitative Services of the Missouri Department of Corrections. The offender treatment program is an involuntary civil commitment program and prerequisite for parole eligibility or conditional release, per RSMo 589.040.

Missouri's Sex Offender Program typically consists of approximately 12 months of therapy and a Sex Offender Assessment Process (SOAP), and takes place at the Farmington Correctional Center (a maximum security facility) for men. The SOAP evaluations are required to assess the needs for probation-eligible offenders, which is shared with the court for community or institutional treatment considerations. Therapeutic treatment is delivered by the Missouri Department of Mental Health, and consists of group therapy, classes and activities along with individual therapy sessions.

This is in line with RSMo 558.019, which states that “the court may order any or all of the following restorative justice methods, or any other method that the court finds just or appropriate:

(1) Restitution to any victim or a statutorily created fund for costs incurred as a result of the offender's actions;

(2) Offender treatment programs;

(3) Mandatory community service;

(4) Work release programs in local facilities; and

(5) Community-based residential and nonresidential programs.”

While some tools exist that assign sexual offenders a “risk level,” they are extremely limited. One of the most popular tools, Static-99, assesses the likelihood of recidivism, defined as the likelihood of being caught reoffending. This means that the tool does not assess the likelihood of reoffending while not being caught. According to Newman's sentencing transcript, he was assessed via the Static-99 twice and scored a 2 and a 3 prior to his sentencing (Newman took the older Static-99 test, and not the updated Static-99R test, on which he would have another point). Offenders with this same score have been found to recidivate 10.2% of the time after five years, 13.8% of the time after 10 years, and 17.7% of the time after 15 years.

The Static-99 test is typically used in combination with other factors regarding the offender's personal history and crimes. Newman was sexually abusing children for at least 10 years before he was caught. He repeatedly disregarded systems and structures put in place to keep him away from children while under criminal investigation and out on bail. Newman abused children across the United States and internationally, and has at least hundreds of victims, possibly thousands.

“The problem with this test, and any of the tests, and it's not the fault of the test, is you sometimes get very socially skilled, highly skilled offenders who have been offending for a long period of time and never got caught for it. If you have a very skilled offender with a long track record of not getting caught, Static-99 really is telling you the risk that he will get caught again. But you have to be cautious in assuming that is the risk that he will reoffend” (Dr. Anna Salter, Newman's Criminal Sentencing, 2010).

In Newman's criminal trial, his defense attorney's paid expert witness, Dr. Joseph Plaud, argued that a core sign that Newman is treatable for reentry to society is that his motive for sexually abusing children was to express his homosexual desires while his Christian beliefs prohibited him from sexually interacting with other men (making no mention of the Christian faith also prohibiting child sexual abuse): “He convinced himself that he wasn't hurting anybody. That he was doing no harm. That it was okay to do what he did. And that's why he did what he did, because he felt safe doing that in the absence of being able to express himself with an adult male.”

Dr. Anna Salter's assessment of Newman's motives, as shared at his sentencing, are a sexual attraction to children without remorse prior to being caught: “Mr. Newman has denied any interest in adults. He has no behavior to support that diagnosis. He has no known sexual contact with adult males. And – he has a phone call – in which he talks to a kid and says he lost interest in people when they became, quote ‘six feet, and he grows muscles all over the place. And I start feeling [him] as a man. And I stop feeling him as a kid. And my heart beats for kids.' … It is very clear from the record that [Newman] is sexually attracted to 12- to 15-year-old boys, and that's the motive behind the offender… There is no real indication in the record that they were troubled or tried to stop the offending until they were caught.”

There is a community of survivors of Kanakuk-affiliated abuse who are advocating for awareness and change, including criminal justice and statute of limitations reform. One such supporting organization, Facts About Kanakuk, has received reports and tips from hundreds of people alleging abuse by more than 60 perpetrators with connections to Kanakuk. Helpful resources for victims and survivors are available here. There is also a link to request to connect to the Kanakuk survivor community here.

In-person attendance at the parole hearing is limited to victims who were named in Taney County's prosecution of Peter Newman. Victims “may be accompanied by one other person” and “shall have the option of giving testimony in the presence of the inmate or to the hearing panel without the inmate being present.”

If you are eligible to attend the next parole hearing in September 2029 and are interested in doing so, please contact Julie Loveall, Senior Victim Specialist (julie.loveall@doc.mo.gov).