A Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court for transporting a Kansas minor across state lines to engage in criminal sexual activity. Nathan Roger Belcher, 31, of Carl Junction, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 12 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Belcher to serve 20 years on […]
Tag: sex
Furious lawmakers demand answers from Missouri DSS for undercount of abuse reports
(Missouri Independent) – Lawmakers slammed the Department of Social Services on Thursday for underreporting the number of substantiated cases of abuse and neglect at youth residential facilities during a previous legislative hearing. For nearly an hour-and-a-half on Thursday, the House Special Committee on Government Oversight pressed DSS officials on why the number of findings of […]
Pattonsburg man facing multiple sex-related charges granted change of venue
A change of venue was sustained in Division One of Daviess County Circuit Court on May 6th for a Pattonsburg man facing multiple sex-related charges involving minors. Seventy-three-year-old Steven Dale Lawrence’s case was transferred to Caldwell County. Lawrence faces first-degree felony charges of sodomy or attempted sodomy, second-degree, third-degree, and two counts of fourth-degree child […]
Brookfield man charged with 33 counts of child porn bound to Division One of Linn County Circuit Court
A case has been bound over to Division One of the Linn County Circuit Court for a Brookfield man charged with 33 counts of felony possession of child pornography—first offense. Forty-four-year-old James Dean Jackson waived a preliminary hearing on May 6th. He is to appear for an arraignment in Division One on June 8th. Jackson […]
Audio: Missouri Senate-House bill boosts protections for police, punishment for protests
The House and Senate will soon confer on a bill to boost protections for police officers and to boost penalties for repeated protesting in public streets. Senate Bill 26, deemed “the public safety bill of the session” by supporters, also comes with an array of amendments tacked on by the House Tuesday. The […]
Former paraprofessional at Blue Springs High School pleads guilty to producing child pornography
A former paraprofessional at Blue Springs High School pleaded guilty in federal court to producing and distributing child pornography. Steven B. Allen, 45, of Independence, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to two counts of producing child pornography and one count of distributing child pornography over the internet. Allen, who has been […]
Jury trial scheduled for teenager accused of inappropriately touching child at daycare center
A two-day jury trial has been scheduled in Linn County for a Meadville resident accused of inappropriately touching a child less than 12 years old at a Meadville daycare. The trial will begin on November 16th for 18-year-old Leeroy Nickell. A pre-trial conference is set for October 5th. Nickell waived formal arraignment and entered a […]
Department of Conservation offering permit applications during May for fall bear hunting
The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds Missourians interested in hunting black bears in the state to apply during May for one of 400 permits being offered by MDC for the state’s first black-bear hunting season this coming fall, Oct. 18–27. The maximum total harvest for the season will be 40 bears. Bear hunting in Missouri […]
Unionville man facing felony child abuse charges after dropping 3-month old daughter on her head three times
A Unionville man has been charged in Putnam County after allegedly dropping his three-month-old daughter on her head three times. Twenty-seven-year-old Tyler James Hurt faces felony abuse or neglect of a child—serious emotional or physical injury—no sexual contact. Bond was set at $25,000 cash only, and an initial appearance in court is scheduled for May […]
Former Youth Director at Fort Leonard Wood pleads guilty to child sexual abuse
A soldier in the Army National Guard pleaded guilty in federal court to sexually abusing four minors over several years while he was the youth ministry director at Fort Leonard Wood U.S. Army Base. David J. McKay, 42, of Waynesville, Missouri, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of transporting […]
Madison Troyer to serve as Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer at Life Options Green Hills
Life Options Green Hills Pregnancy + Health Center is pleased to announce that Madison Troyer of Chillicothe has been hired as the center’s Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (RDMS). Serving in this role, Mrs. Troyer has the opportunity to provide women a first glimpse of the child developing inside them. “Being able to see the instant […]
Missouri KidsFirst announces recipients of 2021 “Standing with Children” awards
Missouri KidsFirst presented the 2021 Standing with Children Awards at a virtual event hosted by the organization at 12:00 PM on Monday, April 26, 2021. The 2021 recipients of the Standing with Children Awards are Laura Bauer and Judy Thomas, investigative reporters with the Kansas City Star, Dr. Linda Shaw, child abuse pediatrician with SSM […]
Livingston County Sheriff’s Department and Chillicothe Police Department to operate from same building
The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office and Chillicothe Police Department have announced plans to operate out of the same building. Sheriff Steve Cox and Police Chief Jon Maples brought the plans to the city administrator and county commission, and the plans are moving forward. The goal date for moving is May 10th. The Chillicothe Police Department […]
Brookfield man arrested for failure to register as a sex offender after crashing on Highway 36
A single-vehicle accident on Monday injured 35-year-old John Thompson of Brookfield. The pickup he was driving ran off Highway 36 and struck the ditch. The report listed Thompson with moderate injuries with treatment at Pershing Memorial Hospital. The highway patrol accused John Thompson of five felony counts of alleged failure to register as a sex […]
Chillicothe woman charged with forgery and endangering the welfare of a child
A report of an unattended child at Springhill and McNally Street in Chillicothe the morning of April 22nd led to a female being transported to the Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail pending local charges. Assistant Chillicothe Police Chief Rick Sampsel says officers went to the location, attempted to locate a parent, and located a woman who came […]
Bill banning trans students from sports teams by gender wins support of Missouri House
(Missouri Independent) – After hours of fierce debate that spanned the course of two days, the Missouri House on Wednesday signed off on a prohibition on transgender students participating on the sports teams that match their gender identity. The provision, offered as an amendment by Rep. Chuck Basye, R-Rocheport, to House Bill 1141 was adopted by a vote […]
Milan man charged with rape and sodomy in case regarding 16-year-old girl at a party
A Milan man accused of raping a 16-year-old girl at a party earlier this month has been charged with four felonies. Twenty-four-year-old Zakaria Zouon faces charges of second-degree statutory sodomy, first-degree rape or attempted rape, second-degree rape, and second-degree statutory rape. Bond was set at $75,000 cash only. A probable cause statement from Sullivan County […]
Audio: Life Options Green Hills provides free and confidential services; Diaper Drive to benefit organization set to kick off April 26
Life Options Green Hills Pregnancy and Health Center of Trenton provides free and confidential services to residents in the nine-county Green Hills area. Services include pregnancy testing, limited first trimester ultrasounds, and pregnancy, prenatal, and parenting education. Executive Director Rachael Brothers says the center also provides a fatherhood education program. She explains that […]
Missouri man charged with sexual trafficking of a child
The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control announces the arrest of Chester Scott Burress, 61, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri for the sexual trafficking of a child. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Division of Drug and Crime Control’s Digital Forensics Investigative Unit and the […]