A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing several firearms, including the firearm used in a drive-by shooting. Eric L. Harper, 28, Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to five years and six months- in federal prison without parole. The sentence reflects an upward variance from the […]
Tag: firearm
Jury trial scheduled in April for Braymer man charged with murder
A jury trial has been scheduled in Johnson County on a felony stealing charge for a Braymer man charged in another case with two counts of murder—first degree. Online court information shows the court on March 3rd granted Garland Joseph Nelson’s motion for a speedy trial. The trial is to begin on April 20th. A […]
Unionville man and three from Moberly, along with four others, indicted in $4.1 million meth conspiracy
Eight defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a $4.1 million conspiracy to distribute more than 520 kilograms of methamphetamine. Tina Marie Bailey, 36, and Martin Lee Williams, 58, both of Kansas City, Mo.; Mark Williams Hildebrand II, 31, and Harry Richard Watson Jr., also known as “Ricky,” 35, […]
Audio: Kansas City mother urges Missouri lawmakers to approve Blair’s Law
A Kansas City mother whose daughter was killed by a stray bullet from celebratory gunfire on the Fourth of July 2011 urged Missouri lawmakers to approve Blair’s law. Michele Shanahan Demoss traveled to Jefferson City on Monday to testify for the bill, which makes discharging a firearm within or into city limits with criminal negligence […]
Audio: A Bill in the Missouri House would ban some gun free zones
People with concealed carry permits could be allowed to take firearms into Missouri places like government buildings, polling places, churches, public hospitals, and public colleges. During a Missouri House committee hearing Monday, Representative Jered Taylor of Nixa says he is proposing eliminating some gun-free zones. Taylor says permit holders could help protect the […]
Missouri Department of Conservation offers hunter education in schools despite COVID-19 challenges
COVID-19 presented considerable challenges to Missouri schools, staff, and students in 2020, including closures, cancellations, remote learning, and more. The pandemic also presented challenges to schools and instructors teaching the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) hunter education courses. “Many schools were closed for much of the year, which reduced the number of kids who could […]
Audio: Missouri House Committee approves legislation involving concealed firearms in churches
Legislation that would allow Missourians to carry a concealed gun inside churches and other places of worship without the minister’s consent has been approved by a Missouri House committee. House General Laws Committee chairman Curtis Trent announced Thursday afternoon’s close vote. The bill is sponsored by GOP State Representatives Ben Baker of Neosho […]
Defendant sentenced to 36-years in prison on multiple counts of sex and drug trafficking
Prince Bixler, 41, of Lexington, Kentucky, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Robert E. Wier to 36 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release and ordered to pay $333,100 in restitution to three sex trafficking victims. In September 2020, a federal jury convicted Bixler of 15 federal felonies related to his […]
Safer Streets Initiative leads to over 500 charges in first two years
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that, to date, his Safer Streets Initiative, which was launched in early 2019, has resulted in 516 charges against 289 defendants across the state. Additionally, 356 firearms have been taken off the streets as a result of the initiative. “Since taking office, prosecuting violent crime in Missouri’s major […]
Two from Cameron arrested by highway patrol
Two people from Cameron have been arrested in DeKalb County. The Highway Patrol reports 47-year-old Juan Fernandez was taken late Monday night to the Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail in Pattonsburg. Fernandez was arrested on warrants from Independence which include unlawful possession of a firearm, as well as resisting arrest, obstructing police, interfering with police, and fleeing […]
Trenton resident arrested on multiple allegations
A Trenton resident has been arrested on warrants accusing him of failure to appear in court on previous charges. Twenty-year-old Nathan Wayne Hinkle was arrested on Sunday. Hinkle failed to appear in Division One of Circuit Court on October 16th for a probation violation hearing. The original charges involve two counts of stealing from August […]
Mexican national sentenced to 8-years in prison for illegal firearm used in drive-by shooting
A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing the firearm he used in a drive-by shooting. Javier Guerrero-Garcia, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to eight years and six months in federal prison without parole. On June 29, 2020, Guerrero-Garcia pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien in possession […]
Man who escaped from Mercer County Jail twice, pleads guilty to multiple charges; handed 16-years in prison by judge
A Kansas City man who law enforcement reported escaped from the Mercer County Jail twice in August 2019 entered a plea of guilty to multiple charges on February 10th and was sentenced. Online court information shows, in one case, 29-year-old Drake Andrew Kately was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for five years on first-degree […]
Trial date changed for Trenton man accused of shooting Trenton police officer
A jury trial has been reset for a Trenton man accused of wounding a Trenton Police officer in June 2019. Forty-year-old Jamey Aaron Griffin’s trial is now scheduled to be August 23rd through 27th. A pre-trial conference is set for July 1st. A trial was originally scheduled to be February 16th through 19th. Griffin has […]
Audio: Federal gun law nullification bill passes Missouri House
A gun law bill that passed the Missouri House Wednesday would punish a police department through civil lawsuits if an officer enforces federal gun laws. A twin of the bill is also moving through the Senate. The “Second Amendment Preservation Act,” sponsored by Rep. Jered Taylor, R-Nixa, is aimed at disregarding any federal firearms actions by the […]
Missouri Attorney General and 22 other states argue allowing citizens to carry is fundamental right and deters crime
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced that his office, along with 22 other state Attorneys General, filed an amicus brief in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Corlett in the United States Supreme Court. The brief, led by Missouri and Arizona, argues that permitting law-abiding citizens to carry firearms in self-defense outside the […]
Missouri business owner sentenced to prison for committing arson against rival business and residence
An Independence, Missouri, business owner has been sentenced in federal court for his role in a conspiracy to commit arson against a rival business as well as a residence, and for illegally possessing a firearm. William “Bill” Joseph Reneau, 44, of Overland Park, Kansas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Tuesday, Feb. […]
Missouri man sentenced to 4-years without parole for illegal firearm and making threatening phone call to airport
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm and for making a threatening phone call that caused disruption at the Springfield National Airport. Dustin B. Gowens, 39, of Springfield was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to four years in federal prison without parole. On Feb. 22, 2020, […]
Missouri man sentenced to 20-years without parole for drug trafficking crack cocaine
A Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for distributing crack cocaine. Jeffery Wayne Taylor, 55, of Sedalia, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough to 20 years in federal prison without parole. On July 6, 2020, Taylor was convicted at a bench trial of two counts of distributing crack cocaine and one […]
Lawson man charged with first-degree murder in shooting death of Elizabeth Michelle Adams
A Lawson man has been charged in Caldwell County with first-degree murder following a shooting in Polo the morning of January 27th in which a woman died from her injuries. Thirty-five-year-old Kevin Lynn Barnett Junior has also been charged with assault—first degree or attempt, armed criminal action, robbery—first degree, unlawful possession of a firearm, and […]