Crime and Courts

Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court news for Thursday, December 9, 2021

Several defendants received prison sentences or probation on Thursday in Grundy County Circuit Court. Mercer County Associate Judge Matthew Krohn was appointed to preside during the proceedings in Division One of Circuit Court. Princeton resident James LeRoy Houk saw his probation revoked on two drug-related counts and was sentenced to four years with the Missouri […]

Child Sex Abuse graphic

Marceline man facing four sex-related felony charges involving girl younger than 14

A Marceline man faces four sex-related felony charges after four alleged separate incidents in May and June 2018 involving a girl younger than 14 years of age. Forty-three-year-old James Thurston has been charged with three counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of statutory sodomy or attempted statutory sodomy involving deviate sexual intercourse. In […]

Allen Knoll, who was sent to Agape Boarding School in Missouri, testifies during a committee hearing on Feb-10-2021, about abuse he endured. (Photo by Tim Bommel - House Communications)

Prosecutor files felony charges against five Agape staffers accused of abuse

(Missouri Independent) – Cedar County Prosecuting Attorney Ty Gaither announced Tuesday that five staffers members of Agape Boarding School will be charged with a combined 13 counts of third-degree felony assault — a fraction of what Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt recommended. In March, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson directed the attorney general’s office to assist Gaither […]

Rape news graphic

Cameron man facing charges of rape and child molestation

A Cameron man faces two felony charges in Caldwell County after he allegedly raped a 16-year-old girl last week. Twenty-two-year-old Ja’Quawn Jones has been charged with first-degree rape or attempted rape and fourth-degree child molestation involving a child less than 17 years of age and an offender greater than four years older.  Bond is $500,000 […]

Brandon Gentile

Chillicothe teenager charged in connection with auto theft and stolen firearm

An 18-year-old has been charged following an investigation by the Chillicothe Police Department involving reports of a stolen vehicle and a firearm on August 3. Brandon Gage Gentile of Chillicothe faces felony charges of first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle; second-degree burglary; stealing a firearm, explosive weapon, or ammonium nitrate; attempted second-degree burglary; armed criminal […]