The Linn County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reports a man has been sentenced on felony charges of abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death and abuse or neglect of a child. Fifty-year-year old Darrel Royal was sentenced in Livingston County Circuit Court on November 1, 2021, to 30 years in the Missouri Department of […]
Tag: crime
Trenton High School Drama Club to present “Disorder in the Court” and host “Paint Party” fundraiser
The Trenton High School Drama Club will present the play “Disorder in the Court” in December. The play will start in the THS Performing Arts Center on December 10th at 6 p.m. Drama Club Sponsor Tashyana Dowell explains the play is about a lady who is wrongly accused and charged with a triple crime, and […]
Bethany teen facing multiple felony charges in relation to property crimes
A Bethany resident faces four felonies in reference to an investigation of what law enforcement called a string of property crimes in Bethany and Harrison County. Eighteen-year-old Joshua David Rakeshaw has been charged with two counts of stealing. He has also been charged with one count each of possession of a controlled substance except 35 […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15 years in prison without parole for child pornography
A Missouri man who downloaded thousands of images and videos of child pornography was sentenced in federal court. Nicholas Goins, 36, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Goins to spend the rest of his life on supervised release […]
Cybersecurity expert demands apology from Missouri governor over hacking claims
(Missouri Independent) – A cybersecurity expert targeted for investigation by Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is demanding a public apology and payment for his costs for legal help and damage to his reputation. Shaji Khan, an associate professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and the director of its Cybersecurity Institute made the demand in a letter sent […]
Democrats say Missouri governor inflating cost of fixing website flaw found by reporter
(Missouri Independent) -When Gov. Mike Parson last week angrily called for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to be prosecuted for uncovering security flaws on a state agency website, he said the newspaper’s actions could “cost Missouri taxpayers up to $50 million.” That amount, two Democrats on the House Budget Committee said Tuesday, is an estimate for providing […]
North Central Missouri College conducting crime scene learning activity
On Thursday, October 21, the North Central Missouri College Criminal Justice Program will be conducting a crime scene simulation learning activity in partnership with local law enforcement agencies. The public is advised that this is a learning activity and there is no cause for concern. “My Criminal Investigations course will be creating a crime scene […]
Feds seize property of Kansas City area companies accused of COVID relief fraud
(Missouri Independent) – The federal government has seized two vehicles and is threatening to seize a lake house, allegedly purchased illegally with COVID-19 relief money by a Kansas City-area businessman. The property was seized from several real estate companies incorporated in Kansas by Joseph Campbell, with most operating under a version of the name Titan […]
FBI releases 2020 statistics for law enforcement officers assaulted in the line of duty
According to statistics reported to the FBI, 60,105 law enforcement officers were assaulted while performing their duties in 2020. These assaults were reported to the FBI by 9,895 law enforcement agencies. Based on these reports, there were 4,071 more officers assaulted in 2020 than the 56,034 assaults reported in 2019. Data regarding these assaults were […]
Missouri governor vows criminal prosecution of reporter who found flaw in state website
(Missouri Independent) – On Tuesday, a reporter with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch alerted the state that Social Security numbers of school teachers and administrators were vulnerable to public exposure due to flaws on a website maintained by Missouri’s department of education. The newspaper agreed to hold off publishing any story while the department fixed the problem and […]
Missouri man pleads guilty to receiving and distributing hundreds of images and videos of child pornography
A Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving and distributing hundreds of images and videos of child pornography. Chandler Durham, 31, of Springfield, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of receiving and distributing child pornography. On Feb. 5, 2020, a detective with the Southwest Missouri Cyber […]
Missouri man pleads guilty to his role to distribute 551 pounds of meth
A Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a conspiracy to distribute more than 250 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Noah Frazier, 39, of Independence, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to one count of conspiracy to distributed methamphetamine and one count of being […]
Trump rails against Democrats, repeats election fraud conspiracies during Iowa rally
(Missouri Independent) – Former President Donald Trump ruminated on election fraud and Democratic wrongdoing during a rally on Saturday while teasing a potential 2024 run. Trump gave a warm greeting to Iowans and touted his win in Iowa in 2020 and his latest Des Moines Register/Iowa Poll numbers. “As disastrous as the Biden administration has been, no […]
Man charged with 118 counts of child sex crimes pleads “Not Guilty” in Linn County Circuit Court
A Macon man charged with 118 felony counts has entered a plea of not guilty in Division One of Linn County Circuit Court. Fifty-four-year-old Kenneth Harper faces multiple counts of child molestation, statutory sodomy, and statutory rape. Harper waived formal arraignment, and his case was passed to January 4th for setting or disposition. The alleged […]
FBI to investigate threats made against school board members, teachers
(Missouri Independent) – The Department of Justice has directed the FBI to meet with local governments and law enforcement to discuss strategies for dealing with increasing threats to teachers and school board members spurred by a conservative backlash against discussions of race in public schools. “Threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to […]
Missouri executes Ernest Johnson by lethal injection
(Missouri Independent) – Missouri carried out the death sentence of Ernest Johnson Tuesday evening, ending his life with an injection of pentobarbital at the state prison in Bonne Terre. Johnson’s case drew national attention in recent weeks, with a range of public figures — from former Gov. Bob Holden to Pope Francis — urging Missouri Gov. […]
Evergy warning customers regarding recent utility scam attempts
Evergy has received customer reports today of individuals placing phone calls to customers and claiming to be Evergy representatives. The individuals are asking customers for immediate payment to avoid service disconnection. These representatives are not employees of Evergy. For past-due accounts, calls from Evergy requesting payment are never made the same day as the disconnection. […]
Governor Parson announces grants to 19 agencies to investigate and prosecute criminals who victimize children
Governor Mike Parson announced the state of Missouri has approved more than $1.8 million in grant assistance to 19 agencies across the state to investigate and prosecute crimes that victimized children. “Criminals who victimize children must be investigated, prosecuted, and brought to justice, no matter when they commit these heinous crimes,” Governor Parson said. “The […]
Missouri State Highway Patrol announces promotion of Sergeant Joseph Veasman to Lieutenant
The superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, announces the following promotion effective October 1, 2021, Sergeant Joseph A. Veasman, Troop F, Zone 14, commercial vehicle enforcement, is being promoted to the rank of lieutenant and assigned to the Professional Standards Division, General Headquarters, Jefferson City, MO. Veasman began his career with the Patrol on […]