A performer at a Branson, Missouri, theater pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing more than $85,000 from hundreds of his own audience members who donated to his non-existent charity for foster children. “For several years, this performer took advantage of his own audiences by pulling at their heartstrings while stealing from their pockets,” said […]
Tag: plead
Missouri man sentenced to 15-years in federal prison for child pornography found on lost phone at truck stop
A Missouri man whose lost cell phone containing child pornography was found at a truck stop was sentenced in federal court. Christopher Lee Caven, 40, of Belton, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Caven to 12 years of supervised release […]
Audio: Man gets 26 years in prison for shooting death of northwest Missouri toddler
A 21-year-old who pleaded guilty to the shooting death of a two-year-old northwest Missouri girl has been sentenced to 26 years in prison. Circuit Judge Daniel Kellogg sentenced Marcain Kimbrough-Ballard of St. Joseph after an emotional hearing in a Buchanan County courtroom. Kimbrough-Ballard, in an earlier court hearing, admitted to firing shots into […]
Daughter of Mexican cartel leader pleads guilty to criminal violation of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act
A dual U.S.-Mexican citizen pleaded guilty today to willfully engaging in financial dealings with Mexican companies that had been identified as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). According to court documents, Jessica Johanna Oseguera Gonzalez, 34, of Guadalajara, Mexico, violated the criminal penalties of […]
Judge Thomas Alley hands down prison time in Division One of Grundy County Circuit Court
Three people were sentenced to prison during Division One proceedings in Grundy County Circuit Court on Thursday. Trenton resident Vance Allan Gannon pleaded guilty to three counts and had one dismissed. Gannon was sentenced to five years with the department of corrections for resisting arrest, detention or stop by fleeing creating a substantial risk to […]
Audio: Circle of Hope owners in Missouri, charged with 102 felonies, plead “NOT guilty” in court appearance
The owners of the now-defunct Circle of Hope Girls Ranch in southwest Missouri’s Humansville remain jailed without bond on Thursday morning, after pleading NOT guilty in Cedar County Court. Boyd and Stephanie Householder are from Nevada, near Humansville. Attorney General Eric Schmitt had to stop speaking at one point during his Wednesday press conference, to […]
Missouri man sentenced to 8-years in prison for $6 million Ponzi scheme
A Kansas City, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for engaging in a $6 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded dozens of victim investors. Matthew R. Peterson, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Howard F. Sachs to eight years and one month in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Peterson to pay […]
Missouri man sentenced to 15-years in prison without parole for child pornography
A Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for receiving and distributing child pornography. Brian M. Turner, 38, of Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 15 years in federal prison without parole. On Sept. 14, 2020, Turner pleaded guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography. The investigation began in December […]
Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court news for Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Among cases Tuesday in Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court. Preliminary hearings were waived by Floyd Wayne Jarrett of Galt, Marquise Terrell Jones of Trenton, Vance Allen Gannon of rural Trenton, and James LeRoy Houk of Princeton. Each had their cases bound over to the docket for tomorrow’s session of Division One of Grundy […]
Iowa reporter’s trial renews call to protect freedom of the press
Testimony began Monday in the trial of an Iowa reporter arrested during a protest in Des Moines. Her case has become the focal point for those raising concerns about the treatment of the press by authorities. Andrea Sahouri is on trial for misdemeanor charges related to her arrest at a Black Lives Matter protest last May. […]
Missouri man pleads guilty to illegal firearms following armed standoff with police officers
A Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing a firearm following a brief armed standoff with police officers and a foot chase. Michael D. Moore, 31, of Kansas City pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Moore was arrested on Monday, […]
Missouri man connected to drive-by shooting sentenced to 5-years in prison
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 […]
Cameron man posts bond after being arrested in Grundy County
The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports a Cameron man posted a $2,500 cash-only bond on felony non-support, total arrears in excess of 12 monthly payments due under an order of support. The Chillicothe Police Department arrested 28-year-old Desmond Huff on March 2nd, and he is scheduled for the Associate Division of the Grundy County Circuit […]
Registered Missouri sex offender sentenced to 15 years in prison without parole for child pornography
A registered sex offender in Raytown, Missouri, was sentenced in federal court for receiving child pornography over the internet. Joseph L. Smith, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Smith to spend the rest of his life on supervised release […]
Trenton man pleads guilty to multiple charges
Charges stemming from November 25th involving a Trenton man have been amended and he entered a guilty plea in the Associate Division of Grundy County circuit court on Tuesday. A plea agreement was involved in the case of William Jason Mullenix. On the charge of operating a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, Mullenix […]
Trenton man pleads guilty to bad checks; Spickard man waives preliminary hearing on sexual abuse allegation
Rural Trenton resident Jerry Urick, on a plea agreement in the Associate Division of Grundy County Circuit Court, has been sentenced, fined, and placed on probation in connection with bad checks from late last year. Urick on Tuesday pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor counts of passing bad checks. Five other counts were dismissed according to […]
One of the nation’s largest chicken producers pleads guilty to price fixing and is sentenced to $107 million criminal fine
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a major broiler chicken producer based in Greeley, Colorado, has pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to pay approximately $107 million in criminal fines for its participation in a conspiracy to fix prices and rig bids for broiler chicken products, the Department of Justice announced today. According to the plea agreement entered […]
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 […]
Former Trenton police officer pleads “Not Guilty” to rape charge; has bond reduced to $15,000
A former Trenton police officer has waived formal arraignment and pleaded not guilty and has been released on bond during his appearance Thursday in Division One of the Grundy County Circuit Court. Michael Wilson of Trenton has been charged with statutory rape in the second degree from last September. An attorney for Wilson had filed […]