A Monett, Mo., woman and a Mexican national have been sentenced in federal court for their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Rebecca Castillo, 37, and Heradio Rios-Zarate, 27, a citizen of Mexico, were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Monday, April 15. Castillo was sentenced to nine […]
A Springfield, Missouri., man was sentenced in federal court for recording his sexual abuse of a child victim. George Ralph Pollock, 77, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to 30 years in federal prison without parole. On April 3, 2018, Pollock pleaded guilty to the sexual exploitation of a child. Pollock admitted […]
Some defendants received prison sentences, others were placed on probation during Thursday’s session of Division One of Grundy County Circuit Court on April 11, 2019. April Dawn Hanson of Trenton pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance. A drug paraphernalia charge was dismissed. She was sentenced to four years with the Department of Corrections. […]
The Missouri Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today (Tuesday) in Jefferson City in the case of a prisoner appealing his death sentence for killing a Springfield girl five years ago. Fifty-one-year-old Craig Michael Wood is currently incarcerated in Potosi, under a death sentence. Wood was convicted of first-degree murder for the 2014 […]
An Independence, Missouri, man was convicted by a federal trial jury of illegally possessing a firearm that he used to shoot his girlfriend. William C. McGee, 43, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was charged as a career criminal due to his prior felony convictions. Police officers were […]
Inmates who are at least 65 years old and are serving life sentences with parole would receive a parole hearing AFTER serving 30 years in prison, under proposed Missouri legislation. The Missouri House voted Thursday to give final approval to St. Charles GOP State Representative Tom Hannegan’s bill, which also ONLY applies to […]
The Missouri House has given final approval to an eight-million-dollar retention pay plan aimed at investing in wage increases in the Missouri Department of Corrections staff. House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith praised the plan on the House floor during Thursday’s budget debate. Frankford GOP State Representative Jim Hansen tells colleagues the plan […]
Governor Mike Parson visited three Missouri prisons on Friday to meet with Department of Corrections staff to continue to focus on restructuring state government and discuss proposed changes designed to improve conditions for corrections workers and boost safety for Missourians. Parson said the efforts to restructure state government are driven by the administration’s “dedication” to […]
A Sacramento, California, man pleaded guilty in federal court to the sex trafficking of six victims. Ronald Ean Taylor, 45, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to six counts of the sex trafficking of an adult. By pleading guilty, Taylor admitted that he used force, fraud or coercion to cause six victims […]
Thursday’s session of Grundy County Circuit Court resulted in a mix of prison sentences and probations imposed by Circuit Judge Thomas Alley. An Iowa resident, Jessica Ann Rinehart of Kellogg, pleaded guilty to four felony counts and was sentenced to seven years with the Department of Corrections for each. Terms run concurrently. Ms. Rinehart was […]
A former Lebanon, Missouri, teacher was sentenced in federal court for receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet. Brandon Hileman, 26, of Lebanon, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to eight years in federal prison without parole. Hileman, formerly a math teacher at Joel E. Barber Junior High School in […]
Two Mexican nationals have pleaded guilty in federal court to illegally possessing firearms after police officers interrupted them shooting handguns in their backyard. Juan Carlos Cuevas-Alvarez, 33, a citizen of Mexico unlawfully residing in Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner on Monday, March 11, 2019, to being an illegal […]
A Clinton, Mo., man has been sentenced in federal court for a $4.7 million investment fraud scheme in which he defrauded 92 investors who believed they were purchasing cattle for resale at a profit. Cameron J. Hager, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, to eight years […]
A Missouri Department of Corrections employee has won a $600,000 settlement from the state after she alleged male co-workers at two state prisons regularly harassed her. The St. Louis Post Dispatch reports the taxpayer-funded payout, approved in January, included just over $297,000 to prison caseworker Jennifer LaFleur and more than $303,000 to attorneys […]
The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of two Trenton residents on Monday who worked in concert with each other and face multiple counts of felony receiving stolen property. Forty-four year old Lois Crouse has been charged with four counts of receiving stolen property. Bond was set at $30,000 cash only. Forty-two-year-old Michael Lynn […]
A Wheeling resident has been sentenced to prison after admitting to violations of probation Wednesday when he appeared in Division One of Grundy County Circuit Court. Probation was revoked and Patrick Richard Oyler was sentenced to five years with the Department of Corrections after a previous stay was set aside. The original charge was criminal […]
The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest of two individuals on Wednesday. Forty-six-year-old Adam Peter Bentz of Nixa has been charged with felony non-support—total arrears in excess of 12 monthly payments due under an order of support. Bond is $10,000 cash only. Court documents accuse Bentz of failing to provide adequate food, clothing, lodging, […]
Three Texas men have recently pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing 654 firearms from United Parcel Service trailers in Springfield, Missouri, en route to Bass Pro Shops. Raynord Hunt, 36, of Dallas, Texas, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to the charges contained in a February 21, 2018, federal indictment. Co-defendants […]
Three Cameron, Mo., residents are among five defendants who have pleaded guilty to their roles in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Benjamin W. Clark, 26, of Cameron, pleaded guilty today before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Matt J. Whitworth to the charge contained in a Nov. 16, 2017, federal indictment. Clark is the fifth defendant to […]
Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox has released an End of Year Report for 2018 showing the office had what he called a “significant change” in the number of traffic stops and citations. There were 1,427 traffic stops in 2018 compared to 967 in 2017, which was an increase of 460. There were also 521 citations […]
