A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing 10 firearms, three of which were stolen during his burglary of a neighbor’s house. Jason B. Roberts, 44, Ash Grove, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to nine years in federal prison without parole. On June 17, 2021, Roberts pleaded guilty […]
Tag: legal
U.S. Supreme Court considers new limits on abortions in Mississippi case
(Missouri Independent) – The Supreme Court is weighing potentially sweeping changes to the right to an abortion, after two hours of arguments Wednesday morning on a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court’s conservatives, who hold a 6-3 majority, appeared through their questions to be sympathetic to Mississippi’s arguments […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15 years in prison without parole for carjacking and illegal firearm in two separate cases
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court in two separate cases, including carjacking and using the victim’s debit card to withdraw $500 from his bank account in one case and illegally possessing a firearm in another case. Abdul M. Williams, 21, Kansas City,, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 15 years […]
Judge Daniel Green: Local health orders tied To COVID-19 are illegal
(AP) — A Missouri judge ruled that local health orders imposed to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state are illegal and should be lifted. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled that orders such as quarantines and business closures violate the Missouri Constitution’s separation of powers clause affecting the executive, legislative and judicial […]
Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court news for Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Preliminary hearings were waived on Tuesday by three defendants who appeared in the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court. Each had their cases bound over to the December 9th session of Division One, Circuit Court. Zachary Lee Wilson faces charges of exhibiting and unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action, and first-degree property […]
Missouri Attorney General files lawsuit against Moberly Public Schools for public records on IEP recording policy
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit against the Moberly Public School District for alleged Sunshine Law violations for requests for public records from the Attorney General’s Office related to their policy on parents recording Individualized Education Plan meetings. “Parents have a right to know exactly what is being taught to the children and […]
Greene County taxpayers footed a $25,000 legal bill in connection with 2017 ballot measure ethics probe
Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway released the audit of the Greene County Commission that included the involvement of a former Greene County commissioner in a 2017 sales tax ballot measure campaign. Among its findings, the audit found that taxpayers paid more than $25,000 in legal invoices sent to the personal address of now-former Presiding Commissioner […]
Former Missouri middle school teacher sentenced to 20 years in prison for illicit sex with her student
A former Missouri, middle school teacher was sentenced in federal court for charges related to enticing one of her students to engage in illicit sex. Amanda Ruth Schweitzer, 42, of Joplin, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 20 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Schweitzer to 15 years of […]
Nearly half of abortions in Kansas are for Missourians. A vote next year could change that
(Missouri Independent) – Patients who arrive at an abortion clinic in Overland Park, Kansas, have often traveled long distances. Many began their journeys in Missouri, sometimes driving hours to their appointment. “We’ve heard these stories from Missourians and other people in our region for years,” said Emily Wales, interim president of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. “They […]
Three police officers hired by Trenton City Council; discussion continues but no action taken on trash service
Three representatives of Rapid Removal Disposal met last night with the Trenton City Council and city officials to discuss issues regarding trash service, particularly complaints that have been received by staff at City Hall. Councilman Lance Otto led a discussion on his research on the banned breed dog ordinance as well as the dangerous dogs’ […]
Trenton City Council agenda for Monday meeting includes banned dog breed ordinance and trash service
The Trenton City Council will consider ordinances regarding a water main for the wastewater treatment plant and cost of service and rate design for the water and sewer departments. The council will meet at Trenton City Hall on November 22 at 7 p.m. The ordinance involving the water main would approve a contract with Earthworks […]
Immigrants make last-ditch plea for deportation protections, work permits in “Build Back Better”
(Missouri Independent) – Undocumented workers and immigration advocates are pushing for Democrats to keep work permits and protections from deportations in the final version of the $1.85 trillion social spending and climate package that the U.S. House is set to vote on as soon as Thursday night. Those immigration provisions face elimination when the bill […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15 years in prison for meth trafficking and illegal firearm following high-speed chase
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing methamphetamine and a firearm. Michael Allen Dicks, Jr., 32, of Kansas City, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Dicks pleaded guilty on Feb. 23, 2021, to one count of possessing methamphetamine to distribute […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15 years in prison for illegal firearms
A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court for illegally possessing firearms after leading law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase from Bolivar, Mo., to Springfield, Mo. Milton W. Sparks, 38, of Aurora, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 15 years in federal prison without parole. On April 15, 2021, Sparks […]
Missouri man pleads guilty to illegal firearms
A Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing three firearms that he sold to an undercover law enforcement officer. Robert E. Shepherd, 50, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to one count of being a felon in possession of firearms. By pleading guilty, Shepherd admitted that […]
Missouri to provide credit monitoring for teachers after reporter found security flaw
(Missouri Independent) – Nearly a month after a reporter identified a security flaw in a state website that exposed teachers’ social security numbers, the state announced Wednesday it was offering a year of credit monitoring services to hundreds of thousands of teachers whose personal information was put at risk According to the Department of Elementary […]
Missouri among first states to file suit challenging CMS vaccine mandate
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson led a coalition of 10 states in challenging the vaccine mandate propagated by the Biden Administration’s Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on healthcare workers across the nation, becoming the first states to file a lawsuit challenging this mandate. Attorney General Eric Schmitt […]
Jury convicts two Mexican nationals, living in Kansas City, of distributing 220 pounds of meth
Two Mexican nationals have been convicted by a federal trial jury for their roles in a $2.1 million conspiracy to distribute over 100 kilograms (220 lbs) of methamphetamine in the Kansas City metropolitan area and in northwest Missouri. Juan Guzman, also known as “Flaco,” 40, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Maria De La Cruz Nava, […]
Audio: Convicted Missouri triple murderer takes the stand in hearing that could lead to exoneration
After more than 40 years in prison, a man convicted of a 1978 triple murder in Missouri headed to court for a hearing in which he maintained his innocence. Kevin Strickland took the stand for his first-ever hearing since being convicted. Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, who says the man is innocent, questioned Strickland […]