A southern Missouri high school teacher has been charged in federal court with the sexual exploitation of a minor after he blackmailed a 14-year-old victim in New Jersey to force her to send him sexually explicit photos and videos. Brandon Lane McCullough, 31, of Branson, Missouri, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the […]
A Springfield, Missouri, man has been charged in federal court with sexually assaulting three teenagers and recording the abuse on his cell phone. William Shane Berg, 47, was charged in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Springfield on Wednesday, May 6, with one count of producing child pornography. According to an […]
The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office will be opening its lobby to the public on May 18th. Sheriff Steve Cox said the office will not be fingerprinting for the public, applicants, new concealed carry permits, or other civilian fingerprint requests until a date yet to be determined. Cox said the office will accepting appointments for concealed […]
An Independence, Missouri, man who was arrested on Tuesday, the same day he shared pornographic images over the internet that he had just taken of a 5-year-old child victim, was charged in federal court. Justin Swift, 35, was charged in a two-count criminal complaint with producing child pornography and with distributing child pornography over the […]
Life Options Green Hills Pregnancy + Health Center to open Monday, May 4, 2020 offering “Virtual” services only Due to the COVID-19 situation, Life Options Green Hills has chosen to delay the physical opening of their pregnancy medical center but will begin offering pregnancy options counseling and resource referrals via phone, email, and text beginning […]
A rural Bethany resident, 35-year-old Joseph Borntreger has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to multiple sex-related counts. Borntreger entered guilty pleas to four counts of statutory rape in the second degree; two counts of statutory sodomy; three counts of sexual misconduct involving a child under the age of 15; and one count of […]
Chillicothe Police Chief Jon Maples reports the department investigated five child victim cases this week, however, few details were released. The Detective Division is investigating the cases with assistance from the Patrol Division. The Detective and Patrol divisions have conducted a child sex crime recently. The police department also worked with partner agencies, such as […]
The Grundy County Commission accepted bids Tuesday morning for culverts. Metal Culverts Incorporated’s bid for steel corrugated tubes was accepted. The price for the steel culverts varies from $21.73 for 24-inch to $74.02 for 60-inch per linear foot. Metal Culverts was the only bid submitted for metal culverts. Owens Trenching’s bid for black N12 double […]
A Bethany man has been charged in Harrison County with three felonies after an alleged incident on Monday, March 23, 2020. Thirty-nine-year- old Jeremiah Searles has been charged with first-degree kidnapping, facilitating a felony, inflicting injury, terrorizing, first-degree domestic assault, and abuse or neglect of a child—no sexual contact. Arraignment was held on Tuesday, and […]
An investigation by the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office of a possible registration violation on a child sex offender has resulted in the arrest of a man on alleged felony violation for failing to register as a sex offender. Sheriff Steve Cox reports 30-year-old Charles Spencer Henson was also arrested on two outstanding Trenton municipal arrest […]
The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control have announced the arrest of David K. Winton, 57, of Jasper, Missouri, for promoting child pornography. The arrest was the result of an investigation conducted by members of the Division of Drug and Crime Control’s Digital Forensics Investigative Unit. The Patrol was assisted by […]
The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office reports the extradition of a Trenton resident charged with felony failure to register as a sex offender. Fifty-eight-year-old James Leon Baker was arrested in Douglas County, Kansas March 4th, with a waiver was signed March 12th. Baker was extradited to Grundy County on Tuesday with bond established at $5,000 cash […]
A Republic, Missouri, truck driver pleaded guilty in federal court to transporting two Missouri teenagers across state lines and sexually assaulting them. Cleveland Lee Crumsey, 37, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of transporting a minor across state lines to engage in criminal sexual activity. By pleading guilty, […]
A retired Roman Catholic priest from southern Missouri has now been indicted by a grand jury in southeast Missouri’s Stoddard County, for alleged sexual abuse of minors. The grand jury has indicted 76-year-old Frederick Joseph Lutz on two counts of forcible sodomy and two counts of deviate sexual assault. This is a superseding indictment, which […]
The Missouri Legislature is being asked to ban doctors and their workers from assisting with or doing sex changes to those under 18. Representative Adam Schnelting is proposing to charge them with a felony and yank their professional licenses for providing gender reassignments, hormonal therapy, and puberty blockers, which are different from surgically changing genitalia. […]
A Springfield, Missouri, man who has been charged separately in state court with multiple crimes against children was sentenced in federal court for failing to register as a sex offender during the time he allegedly committed those state crimes. Frank Patrick Lambert, 61, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to three years […]
The Green Hills Women’s Shelter will hold its Annual Chief’s Tea next month to promote awareness of domestic and sexual violence in the area. Spokesperson Laurie Stevenson says someone who came to the shelter for help escaping an abusive relationship will speak at the luncheon. There will also be a silent auction. A Green Hills […]
A Madison, Alabama, man was sentenced in federal court for enticing a 16-year-old Kansas City, Missouri, victim into engaging in illegal sexual activity. James Reece Vance, 46, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Vance to 15 years of supervised release […]
A jury trial has been canceled in Division Three of Ray County Circuit Court for a Lawson man charged with 11 felony counts of abuse or neglect of a child—no sexual contact. Gary Wyant appeared in court on Wednesday morning, and continuance was granted and the trial scheduled for March 16th through 19th was canceled, […]
An Aurora, Missouri, man has been sentenced in federal court for receiving and distributing child pornography. Michael Steven Copfer, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes on Monday, Feb. 24, to 12 years and seven months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Copfer to 15 years of supervised release […]
