The Justice Department announced today that Sonia Tabizada, 36, of San Jacinto, California, was sentenced to 15 months and 13 days for intentionally obstructing persons in the enjoyment of their free exercise of religious beliefs by threatening to bomb Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, D.C. In May 2019, school officials announced that Visitation Prep, […]
Tag: crime
Missouri man sentenced to 70 years in prison without parole for sexual exploitation of a minor
A Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for coercing a minor victim to engage in illicit sexual activity. Tracy Todd Presson, 55, of Gainesville, Missouri was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 70 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Presson to spend the rest of his life […]
Eric Schmitt joins Missouri race for U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Roy Blunt
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt officially jumped into the GOP primary for the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, making him the second major Republican hopeful seeking to replace Roy Blunt. Schmitt’s decision comes after former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens jumped into the race earlier this week. Both made their announcements on Fox News. “Washington, D.C., needs more […]
Missouri man sentenced to 24-years in prison for distributing 12 pounds of methamphetamine
A Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for his role in a drug-trafficking conspiracy that distributed at least 12 pounds of methamphetamine in the Joplin area, as well as for illegally possessing numerous firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Mark E. Burdge, 50, of Joplin, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. […]
Suspect dies in officer-involved shooting in Randolph County
Officers with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday responded to a call in Jacksonville to a male with a knife who was attempting to break into residences. The deputy arrived on the scene and located the suspect, who approached the deputy with a knife in a threatening manner. The deputy responded by drawing their […]
Audio: Lawmakers to question Missouri DSS chief about boarding school abuse investigations
The head of the Missouri Department of Social Services is scheduled to appear before a panel of lawmakers Wednesday about the agency’s handling of abuse investigations within boarding schools. The Missouri House Special Committee on Government Oversight has called a Wednesday afternoon hearing to question the department’s acting director, Jennifer Tidball. The Kansas City Star has […]
Biden calls on U.S. Senate to act on background checks after Colorado mass shooting
(Missouri Independent) – President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged the U.S. Senate to immediately pass legislation to close loopholes on background checks for guns and to ban assault weapons, following a mass shooting that killed 10 at a Colorado supermarket. “This should not be a partisan issue,” Biden said. “This is an American issue.” Biden’s […]
Traffic stop on Highway 36 ends with seizure of Uzi submachine gun, ammunition and drugs
The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office and the Northwest Missouri Interagency Team Response Operation-Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Task Force are investigating an incident earlier this week. Sheriff Steve Cox reports Deputy Nicholas Leadbetter stopped a vehicle late at night on Highway 36 because it was being driven as if the driver was impaired […]
Branson performer pleads guilty to fraud scheme
A performer at a Branson, Missouri, theater pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing more than $85,000 from hundreds of his own audience members who donated to his non-existent charity for foster children. “For several years, this performer took advantage of his own audiences by pulling at their heartstrings while stealing from their pockets,” said […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15-years in federal prison for child pornography found on lost phone at truck stop
A Missouri man whose lost cell phone containing child pornography was found at a truck stop was sentenced in federal court. Christopher Lee Caven, 40, of Belton, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Caven to 12 years of supervised release […]
Hawley and colleagues reintroduce “Protect and Serve Act” to punish criminals for targeting law enforcement
Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and 16 of his colleagues reintroduced the Protect and Serve Act, legislation that would create federal penalties for individuals who deliberately target local, state, or federal law enforcement officers with violence. In 2020, more than 300 officers were shot in the line of duty and 47 officers were shot and killed, including […]
Vehicle stop leads to arrest of three on alleged drug violations
Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox reports a vehicle stop on Highway 65 for an equipment violation led to the arrest of three individuals for alleged drug violations. Online court information shows 63-year-old Daniel Leroy Walker of Bedford, 38-year-old Dawn Rachelle King of Hale, and 40-year-old Sasha Campos of Hale have each been charged with felony […]
Pre-trial conference set for May 2, murder trial set for June 6 in case involving death of Diemel brothers
Braymer resident Garland Joey Nelson will have his murder trial sooner than previously scheduled. At a hearing on Tuesday in Johnson County Circuit Court in Warrensburg, a three-week jury trial is now set to begin June 6, 2022. The trial was previously was listed for February of next year. Online information shows a case review […]
Trenton man facing charges of burglary, property damage and assault
A Trenton resident has been arrested and faces charges that involve burglary, property damage, and two counts of assault. Twenty-six-year-old Michael Dillon Odor is held in lieu of five thousand dollars cash bond. His next court appearance is March 23rd in the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court. Odor is charged with felony burglary […]
Audio: Missouri Public Defender System handles about 6,000 child support criminal cases annually
Missouri law makes it a crime when a parent fails to pay child support. The Missouri Public Defender System handles roughly 6,000 of these cases annually. During a House Budget Committee hearing, System Director Mary Fox says handling those cases in civil court, instead of criminal court, could have a significant financial impact on her […]
Daughter of Mexican cartel leader pleads guilty to criminal violation of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act
A dual U.S.-Mexican citizen pleaded guilty today to willfully engaging in financial dealings with Mexican companies that had been identified as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). According to court documents, Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez, 34, of Guadalajara, Mexico, violated the criminal penalties of […]
Governor Parson announces special funding to help Missouri’s youth
Governor Mike Parson announced a special cycle of the Department of Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) and Youth Opportunities Program (YOP), making $21.8 million available to assist nonprofit organizations and other entities providing services to at-risk youth. “Missouri nonprofits have been a lifeline for many Missourians throughout the COVID-19 crisis, providing critical services during […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15-years in prison without parole for child pornography
A Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for receiving and distributing child pornography. Brian M. Turner, 38, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 15 years in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 14, 2020, Turner pleaded guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography. The investigation began in December […]
Audio: $10,000 reward offered in the killing of a 9-year-old Caion Green in St. Louis
CrimeStoppers is offering a $10,000 reward for information about who killed a 9-year-old last weekend in St. Louis. On March 7th, officers received a call for “Shots Fired” in the 900 Block of Lasalle Park. At approximately 10 pm, followed by a call for a “Shooting” after Victim Caion Green, who was 9 […]