The Justice Department announced that a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging Colton Donner, 25, with threatening an African-American male juvenile, because of the victim’s race and because the victim was living in a home in Paola, Kansas, in violation of Title 42, U.S. Code, Section 3631. For a separate […]
Tag: justice
Five members of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang charged with murder
Five members of the violent Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) international street gang are set to appear in court following charges of conspiracy and murder in aid of racketeering, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Wilson Jose Ventura-Mejia, 24; Jimmy Villalobos-Gomez, 23; Angel […]
Deportation of German citizen who was Nazi concentration camp guard upheld by Board of Immigration appeals
The Board of Immigration Appeals has dismissed the appeal of Tennessee resident Friedrich Karl Berger, a German citizen who was ordered removed from the United States earlier this year on the basis of his service in Nazi Germany in 1945 as an armed guard of concentration camp prisoners in the Neuengamme Concentration Camp system (Neuengamme). […]
Judgement issued in wrongful death suit involving fatality accident on Highway 6
A judgment has been issued in Grundy County regarding a wrongful death suit stemming from a fatality accident on eastbound Highway 6 in June 2019. The Highway Patrol reported 38-year-old Eric Virtue of Jamesport was pronounced dead at the scene three miles west of Trenton when a pickup truck driven by Russel Louderback of Trenton […]
Seven charged in connection with COVID-relief fraud scheme involving at least 80 fraudulent loan applications
Seven individuals across two states were charged in an indictment unsealed for their alleged participation in a scheme to obtain approximately $16 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Amir Aqeel, 52, and Pardeep Basra, 51, both of […]
Police chokeholds, no-knock warrants spark debate in Missouri House committee
(Missouri Independent) – As state lawmakers mull the idea of restricting police use of chokeholds or no-knock warrants, they are facing pushback from law enforcement organizations who contend decisions should be made at the local level. The House Special Committee on Criminal Justice met for three hours on Monday to explore the possibility of passing […]
Missouri Attorney General takes action after Satanic Temple seeks to disqualify Justice Amy Coney Barrett
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a response in Judy Doe v. Michael L. Parson, defending Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s faith after it was called into question by a member of the Satanic Temple. Judy Doe, a member of the Satanic Temple, filed a motion to disqualify Justice Barrett last week. Read the […]
North Central Missouri College Criminal Justice students visit Trenton Police Department
North Central Missouri College Criminal Justice students recently obtained hands-on learning by visiting the Trenton Police Department and observing the communications center. During their visit, students were given a tour of the facility by Lieutenant Larry Smith, Assistant Chief of Police, and learned how the department operates. “We appreciate the Trenton Police Department for allowing […]
Missouri redistricting vote on Amendment 3 opens door to an experiment, regardless of outcome
(Missouri Independent) – State governments are unique political bodies that allow for experimentation in how rules and laws affect political outputs. As Justice Louis Brandies pointed out – states are laboratories of democracy. State governments have broad jurisdiction to “tweak” institutional rules and laws. Through this system of government, we can observe the aftermath of […]
Audio: U.S. Senate confirms Barrett to Supreme Court; Hawley praises her; Missouri Democratic Party Chair criticizes vote
Missouri’s junior senator is praising the newest U.S. Supreme Court Justice, who was sworn-in Monday after being confirmed by the Senate on a 52-48 vote. GOP Senator Josh Hawley, who serves on the Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, was impressed with Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s testimony at hearings. Senator Hawley describes Barrett as […]
Audio: Missouri woman to be executed in December for 2004 northwest Missouri murder.
A woman convicted of fatally strangling a pregnant woman, cutting her body open, and kidnapping her baby is scheduled to be executed in December. The Justice Department said Friday that Lisa Montgomery is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on Dec. 8 at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana. Montgomery […]
Judge Thomas Alley hands down prison sentences in Division One of Grundy County Circuit Court
Several defendants were sentenced by Judge Thomas Alley Thursday in Division One of the Grundy County Circuit Court. Robert Lee Ellis of Trenton pleaded guilty to five felony counts stemming from the March 21st incidents. He was sentenced from three to five years with the Department of Corrections. The terms are to run concurrently, or […]
Twenty-four defendants, including alleged Aryan Circle gang members and associates indicted in Missouri and nearby states
Five indictments in three different states were unsealed indicting a total of twenty-four defendants, including alleged Aryan Circle (AC) gang members and associates, on charges of racketeering conspiracy, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, drug conspiracy, and unlawful firearms trafficking. The indictments were announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice […]
Missouri Governor continues efforts to combat violent crime
Combating violent crime has been a priority for Governor Mike Parson and his administration. Over the past year alone, he and his administration have taken several steps to address the issue, invest state resources, and protect the safety of Missourians. “As Governor and a former law enforcement officer for more than 22 years, protecting the […]
Judge Steve Hudson presides over busy court docket in Tuesday session of Grundy County Court
Preliminary hearings were waived on Tuesday by seven defendants in the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court. Each is to be arraigned on their various charges on Thursday in Division One of the Circuit Court in Trenton. Cory Jack Burchett of Trenton is charged with the September 30th offenses of possessing a controlled substance […]
Federal leader looks to Missouri as model for post-incarceration success
About 96% of people incarcerated in Missouri eventually return home to our communities. More than 15,000 Missourians are released from state prisons each year. To help boost their chances of success, the Missouri Department of Corrections partners with fellow state agencies and community nonprofit organizations to build a network of support in areas such as […]
United States flag returns to Five Points in downtown Trenton
The United States flag has returned to Five Points flag pole in downtown Trenton. The flag is currently flying at half staff as national mourning for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died September 18th at the age of 87. City Administrator Ron Urton explained the flag was removed after it was noticed that […]
Hawley says Democrats have threatened to ‘burn down the Constitution’ on SCOTUS confirmation
Democrats in Washington have ripped Republicans for forging ahead with the confirmation of a new U.S. Supreme Court justice after Friday’s death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, says if Republicans do not move forward, they will have a hard time explaining the decision to voters. During an appearance, Monday on […]
Blunt says vote on Supreme Court nominee different than 2016
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death on Friday has unleashed a political brawl on Capitol Hill ahead of the November General Election. President Donald Trump says he plans to announce a nominee this week to fill the vacancy and vows to choose a woman. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, says Trump’s […]
Governor Parson appoints Holly Conger-Koenig as Associate Circuit Judge for 1st Judicial Circuit
Governor Mike Parson appointed Holly Conger-Koenig as Associate Circuit Judge for the 1st Judicial Circuit. She will fill the Associate Circuit Judge vacancy created by the appointment of the Honorable Rick Roberts to Circuit Judge. Ms. Conger-Koenig, of Kahoka, is currently serving as the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney. She holds a Bachelor of Science in criminal […]