Man Who Stole Gun From Old Cabin Shop Gets Five Years Probation:

Zachary Townsend (mug shot)

A Jasper County man who helped steal a gun last September from the Old Cabin Shop was sentenced to five years probation.

Zachary S. Townsend pleaded guilty to the theft in August. Prosecutors in Jasper County allege that the gun theft was what led to the murders of Robert and Ellen Sheldon in October of 2008.

Authorities say Townsend and Darren J. Winans, 22, Jasper, stole a rifle and scope from the gun and archery store that sat on the Sheldon's property on Sept. 23, 2008.

The probable cause statement filed with the charges says that Townsend distracted Robert Sheldon while Winans stole the gun. That gun was later traded for speakers according to investigators.

Winans and Matthew D. Laurin, 20, Springfield are charged with murder, robbery and armed criminal action for the Sheldon's deaths on October 11, 2008. Prosecutors allege that Laurin and Winans stabbed the Sheldons and their dog to death when they broke in their home looking for weapons to trade for drugs.

Lawyers for Winans and Laurin want their clients trials to be held seperately and out of Jasper County. Judge Gayle Crane will continue to hear motions regarding those matters on December 21st.



https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/cases/searchCases.do
09AO-CR01310-01 - ST V DARREN WINANS AND MATTHEW D LAURINS

Former Greenfield Band Teacher Pleads Guilty To Sex Charges Involving Student:

Alison M. Peck (mug shot)

The former band teacher for Greenfield High School in Dade County has pleaded guilty to statutory rape in Greene County.

According to online court records, Alison Peck changed her plea and was given a suspended five-year sentence today in Greene County Circuit Court. Peck was placed on five years’ probation and ordered to complete a sexual offender treatment program.

In the probable cause statement filed with the charges, authorities say that a 16-year-old boy started texting Peck over last years (2008) Christmas break.

In January, the teenager says that he began visiting Peck's home in Mt. Vernon and that the two had sex at the teachers residence on numerous occasions.

Prosecutors in Dade County filed two statutory rape charges against Peck earlier this year and the Lawrence County Prosecutor filed one count of statutory rape and another statutory sodomy charge against the former educator.

Greene County prosecutors charged Peck with the statutory rape charge after friends of the woman's arranged a liaison between the teacher and the same victim in the other cases at the American Inn in Springfield. One of Peck's friends rented the room in her name after Peck told her that she was being watched by authorities.

Peck, is still facing sex charges in Dade and Lawrence counties. She is due in court there on December 3rd; she's also scheduled to be in court for a hearing on a civil suit filed by the father of the student on December 2nd.

Man Involved In Shootout With Cops Told Friends He Wouldn't Be Taken Alive:

Lance N. Anderson (mug shot)

A man involved in a shootout with cops following a traffic stop last week in Greene County told his girlfriend and his buddies that he wasn't going to be taken alive.

Lance N. Anderson was wanted by cops after shooting at officers in Bolivar the day before cops stopped a truck he was a passenger in last Tuesday. Bolivar cops have a no chase policy, however, they did put out an APB on their suspect.

Sheriff Jim Arnott said in a news release, that Anderson, 23, who was also wanted on a Christian County warrant, had a handgun in his waistband and fired the gun twice as officers approached the vehicle.

A bullet from the stolen gun Anderson was carrying struck him in the lower abdomen and thigh, according to the report.

Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott

When a Deputy U. S. Marshal and Greene County detective saw Anderson raise the gun, they both fired several rounds from their service weapons at the man, striking him in the chest.

At the same moment the officers fired, Anderson shot himself in the head, according to the news release.


According to witnesses in the truck, they were aware that cops were behind them near East Division Street and Frisco Avenue prior to the stop. When emergency lights were activated, Anderson advised the other occupants to “floor it,” the driver refused and stopped.

Authorities in Greene County have been working with detectives with the Taney County Sheriff's office that took the initial report of the gun theft back on October 26th.

On October 28th a theft was in progress at a different location in Taney County, when the homeowner heard someone breaking into his vehicle about 2 a.m.

The homeowner told authorities he went outside and yelled at the thief, who fired a .40 caliber handgun at him, striking him in the leg.

The homeowners leg was bruised, according to Taney County Sheriff Jimmie Russell. "It just kind of grazed him.....he was lucky," Russell said.

Taney County Sheriff Jimmie Russell

Russell says that Greene County authorities contacted him last Wednesday and confirmed that the serial number found on the gun in Anderson's possession was stolen out of a home in Forsyth.

"At this point we're unable to definitely say that the gun used to shoot the homeowner in our county is the same gun used in Greene County's case. Our case is still under investigation...we will check all the evidence and see what we come up with," Russell said.

It's expected that toxicology and ballistics results won't be back for about two months according to a spokeswoman for the Greene County medical examiners office.

The two law enforcers involved in the shooting will remain on paid administrative leave until the administrative investigation is concluded and presented to the Springfield Police Department for review.

It will then be presented to the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for review.

Springfield Man Commited As Sexually Violent Predator:

A man from Springfield has been committed to the state mental health prison as a sexually violent predator.

Judge Dan Conklin sent 55-year-old Richard Berg to the Missouri Sexual Offender Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Farmington.

In 2000, Berg pleaded to guilty to sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy and was sentenced to five years in prison. The Missouri Attorney General's Office has worked to commit Berg as a sexually violent predator."It is critical that we keep those who could commit further violent sexual acts off the streets and away from those they could harm," Attorney General Chris Koster said. "As sexually violent predators, these offenders can get the help they need, and the community will be protected."

Currently their are 135 sexually violent predators committed in Missouri, with 23 of those having occurred this year.

Those committed by the court as sexually violent predators are placed in the custody of the Missouri Department of Mental Health. They have the right to have their cases reviewed annually to determine if their mental abnormality has changed, making them unlikely to commit further acts of sexual violence if released.

White Supremicist Preacher Wants $23 Million Dollars From Government:

Robert Joos (above)

A white supremacist from McDonald County who doesn't recognize the government wants a federal judge to rule that his constitutional rights were violated.

Robert Joos is seeking $23 million in damages saying his Second Amendment right among others was violated, even though he is a convicted felon.

In 1994 authorities in McDonald County raided the self-proclaimed preachers compound, The Sacerdotal Order of the David Company, and were stunned at what they found. Stockpiled inside the compound were weapons, ammunition and dynamite. Joos, claimed the weapons were meant for trading. He was convicted and released from prison in 1997.

The Turner Report broke the story that Joos filed a motion last week in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri from his jail cell in Osceola saying that authorities also violated his right to protect himself and his property from unreasonable search and seizure, as outlined by the Fourth Amendment; possessing explosives and firearms, a right he said was guaranteed by the Ninth Amendment and violation of his Tenth Amendment right to exercise power over his environment by activities such as protection, hunting, excavating, demolition, and others.

Joos says the government does not have a right to prevent him from having firearms while allowing other people to do so. In his motion Joos says that not knowingly possessing firearms and explosives is not relevant to his right to do so.

Joos is asking for the return of all weapons he did not knowingly possess, as well as $100,000 per day in actual damages for each day he has been held, as well as $100,000 a day in punitive damages for each day held.

Joos, who was arrested in June after a lengthy investigation by authorities into a 2004 mail bombing in Scottsdale, Arizona, that prosecutors allege was racially motivated, is scheduled for to be in federal court on December 21st. He is scheduled to stand trial in late January on charges of being a felon in possession of firearms,-- two counts of unlawful transport of firearms and one count of interstate transportation of explosive materials.



*****Joos compound raid courtesy of Luck Dog blog.

Prelim Postponed For Alleged Cole Camp Murderer:

The date for the preliminary hearing for the man accused of murdering his aunt, uncle and cousin earlier this summer in Cole Camp has been rescheduled.

Lawyers for Robert Blurton have filed motions with the court to declare a state statute unconstitutional. Public defenders want lab tech's from the state crime lab available for the preliminary hearing.....the state says it has their reports that they can enter into evidence.

Donnie, Sharon and Taron Luetjen were found bound together and shot in June of this year. Prosecutors allege that Blurton killed his family members during a robbery at their home.

The date for Blurton's prelim has been rescheduled for December 16th.

***Luetjen family image KSPR

Alleged Church Burglar Busted:

A Springfield man has been charged with thirteen counts of second degree burglary and two counts of first degree burglary for a string of church burglaries.

Investigators believe that Joshua L. Higgins (a.), 22, is responsible for the rash of church burglaries that began in August. In most of the church burglaries cash was taken after Higgins made forced entry into the churches.

Police are continuing to investigate several other burglaries and a string of arson's in the city to see if there is any connection to Higgins. Further charges are possible.

Higgins’ bond was set at $50,000.

Higgins has been charged with burglary for thefts at the following churches:

3535 N. Glenstone—Praise Assembly Church of God (two counts)

3114 E. Sunset—Harvest Ministries

3111 E. Battlefield—Second Baptist Church

2722 W. Mt. Vernon—Good News Worship Center

2110 S. Blackman Road—Glendale Baptist Church

4221 S. National Ave—Seminole Baptist Church

2121 S. Blackman Road—Hope Community Church

922 W. Republic Road—Wesley United Methodist (two counts)

2848 N. Broadway Ave—Truth Community Church (two counts)

2655 N. Grant Ave—Baptist Temple

Springfield Man Who Set His Wife On Fire Sentenced To Twenty Years In Prison:

A Springfield man who set his wife on fire two years ago while she slept in bed has been sentenced to twenty years in prison.

Antonio Draper, (a.) 28, pleaded guilty to charges of first-degree domestic assault and armed criminal action back in August. He was sentenced to twenty years on each of the charges.

Those sentences will be served concurrently (at the same time,) but because of the armed criminal action conviction, Draper will have to serve 85% of the sentence before he becomes eligible for parole.

Suspect Wanted In Connection With Attempted Officer Shooting In Boliver, Shot And Killed By Marshal And Greene County Deputy:

Late yesterday afternoon (11-24-09,) detectives with the Greene County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force received information about where they would find a fugitive felon they had been looking for in connection to the attempted shooting of a Bolivar Police Officer the day before.

At 5:06 PM, a vehicle that Lance N. Anderson (a.), 23, of Springfield and Bolivar, was in was spotted, and a vehicle stop was initiated at the intersection of E. Division St. and Frisco Ave. in Springfield. As a Marshal and Greene County Detective approached, Anderson emerged got out of the car brandishing a handgun.

Sheriff Jim Arnott says that Anderson fired at least one shot was fired by the suspect at officers, who returned fire. The suspect was checked on scene and was deceased.

In addition to being wanted for the attempted shooting of the Bolivar Police Officer, Anderson was wanted on an active warrant for Probation Violation/Felony Stealing.

The two officers involved in the fatal shooting are on paid leave pending the completion of the investigation and administrative review of the incident.

The Greene County Medical Examiner has scheduled an autopsy on Anderson for 4:00 p.m. today.

Tentative Trial Date Set For Alleged Helmlinger Murderer:

One of the two suspects in the murder of Christopher Helmlinger of Berryvile, will face capital murder charges when his trial begins on Aug. 24, 2010.

Evin and Melissa Davis have pleaded not guilty to murder and accessory to murder charges. Sources say that prosecutors are trying to work out some sort of plea agreement with Melissa Davis for her testimony against her husband.

Chris Helmlinger went missing in late September. On October 18th, a resident of the Glen Echos trailer park discovered a "strange mound" of dirt and called police.....a shovel was found nearby. Helmlinger was found in the shallow grave, he had been shot once in the head.

During the course of the investigation into Helmlinger's murder, investigators discovered that a man by the name of Charles Hedstrom spent a lot of time with Helmlinger while the two worked together at Tyson in Green Forest.

The night that Helmlinger's body was discovered, Hedstrom and his family packed up and left town, according to the release.Witnesses also told cops that Hedstrom had been seen in the area where Helmlinger's body was found with a shovel.

When authorities started delving into Hedstrom's past, they discovered that the man was actually Evin Davis, and he was wanted in Missouri.

Police caught up with Davis' wife, Melissa Davis, when she went to Tyson Foods to pick up her last paycheck.At first Melissa Davis refused to tell authorities where they would find her husband.

She was charged with hindering apprehension....a few days later prosecutors charged her with capital murder by accessory. She is being held on $1 million dollars bond.

Evin Davis turned himself into authorities in McAllen, Texas after he learned of his wife's arrest.

Prosecutors say they believe Davis killed Helmlinger because he wanted to assume his identity or possibly because Helmlinger was going to turn Davis in....or a combination of both.

Jasper County Detective responsible for Internet predator arrests:

A Kansas man has been busted for allegedly having on-line sex with an officer posing as a minor on the Internet and allegedly exposing himself on a web cam last month.

Octavian C. Castorena, 43, of Independence, Kansas was arrested Monday at his home after and is still being held at the Independence police department.

Jasper County Detective Ed Bailey, who is assigned to the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, was posing as the juvenile when he encountered Castorena in an Internet chat room on October 5, 2009.

Bailey coordinated with officers of the Independence, Kansas Police Department. Castorena was arrested at his residence today during the service of a search warrant. He was booked on the class D felony charge of Sexual Misconduct with a Child. Castorena will be held pending an extradition hearing. His computer and other evidence was recovered at the scene and will be transferred to the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force for analysis.

Major Ron Hartman Named Springfield's Interim Police Chief; Search For Rowe's Sucessor Continues:

Maj. Ron Hartman has been named Interim Police Chief by Springfield City Manager Greg Burris. Hartman will take over the duties of Police Chief Lynn Rowe effective Dec. 5. Rowe will retire on Jan. 15, 2010 after more than 16 years leading the City's Police Department. Rowe will use remaining vacation time before his retirement becomes official.


Hartman will remain Interim Police Chief while a nationwide search for Rowe's successor is conducted. The search process will begin soon. Plans are in progress for backfilling Hartman's current position as Major.

Hartman is a 23-year veteran of the Springfield Police Department. He has been Uniform Operations Division Commander since 2007, in which he has been responsible for the approximately 200 uniformed officers in 14 patrol squads, two traffic squads and the Community Services Section. Prior to that, Hartman has been the Special Investigation Section Commander; Special Response Team (SWAT) Commander; Uniformed Operations Section Commander and Community Services Section Commander. Hartman holds a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Drury University and has studied at the Northwestern School Police Staff & Command and the FBI National Academy.

"Ron is very capable of keeping the Police Department running as it should be until a permanent replacement can be made," Rowe said. "I think he's a good choice."

Hartman has leadership experience in, and extensive knowledge of, the operations division of the Department, as well as the community policing and narcotics programs.

"Ron Hartman's wide range of experiences - whether as a Patrol Officer, a Major Crimes Investigator, the SWAT Commander, or as Uniformed Operations Division Commander - provide a broad base of knowledge," Burris said. "Ron is well-respected within the department, and will serve Springfield's citizens well as the Interim Police Chief."

Former Bookkeeper For Andy Williams Theater Charged With Stealing From Company:

The longtime bookkeeper for the Andy Williams' Moon River Enterprises has been charged with stealing about a half million dollars from the company.

According to court documents filed November 18th, prosecutors also charged Dawn Cleveringa, 55, Branson, who worked for the theater for fourteen years, with forgery .

The investigation was lengthy and broad in scope....it appears from online court documents that one of the charges is from April of 2007 and the other is from June of this year.

A warrant was issued for Cleveringa's arrest and was arrested by the Branson Police Department where she posted 40,000 bond and was released from jail.

An arraignment date has not been set.


*****Greg Brock contributed to this story.

https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/base/welcome.do
09AF-CR02698 - ST V DAWN K CLEVERINGA

UPDATE: Howell County Sheriff Says Woman's Death Was No Accident:

Sheriff Mike Shannon

The Howell County Sheriff's Office is investigating a mystery, one in which Sheriff Mike Shannon says that someone was trying to make a woman's death look like an accident.

Late Friday night, a passerby called 9-1-1 and said Becki Lynne Dillard, 24, of Moody had been involved in a fatal car crash on Highway FF near Missouri 142, not far from her home.

Police say the crime scene and the injuries to Dillard's body didn't add up to an accident, it was murder. Sources close to the investigation say that Dillard died from two gunshot wounds to the head.

Dillard was the mother of two little boys, Cobey 4, and Kryckett who just turned 1.

Now Sheriff Shannon wants to put the person or persons responsible for their mom's death behind bars.

Dillard's family says she left last Friday (11-13-09) night to buy makeup at Wal-Mart for her sister's birthday....but she never made it to the birthday party.

Howell County Sheriff Mike Shannon initially called in The South Central Drug Task Force and investigators with the Missouri State Highway Patrol. "We have burnt the candle at both ends on this investigation and we're not looking at stopping any time soon," the sheriff said.

If you have any information that can help investigators solve this case, you can call the Howell County Sheriff's Department at (417) 256-2544 or the Highway Patrol at (417) 469-3121.

UPDATE 11-23-09:

Billy Eastep 41, the boyfriend of Becki Dillard's mother-in-law, Debra Dillard, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with Becki's death.

Debra Dillard told investigators that Eastep told her that he followed Becki down Highway FF and pulled her over.

When Becki turned to walk away from the confrontation, Eastep allegedly told Debra Dillard that he shot Becki in the back of the head. A news release from Sheriff Mike Shannon says that after Becki fell to the ground, he went over and shot her once more in the head.

Prosecutor Admits Burk May Have Been A Potential Suspect In Rufus Church Death:

Image courtesy of Christian County Headliner

By Dave Warren and Kathee Baird

Donald R. Burk, 49, co-owner of the former Heritage Chrysler-Jeep and Ozark Dodge, was killed in a crash on U.S. 65, three miles south or Urbana.

Burk's death comes just nine months after his partner, Rufus Church, was found dead from a gunshot wound at the Ozark dealership.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, Burk was southbound at 6:08 a.m. Tuesday, when his vehicle crossed the center line and collided with a tractor trailer operated by Donald Creekmore, 51, of Joplin.

Police say that Burk's 2006 Jeep landed in a ditch where it caught fire and burned.

Burke was pronounced dead at the scene by Dallas County Coroner, Lamount Swanson.

Police have yet to release the cause of death and conclusion of their investigation into the the death of Rufus Church. The autopsy report does not list suicide, Christian County Coroner Arthur Adams amended Church's cause of death to pending investigation after authorities requested the change.

Christian County Prosecutor, Ron Cleek, told the Sentinel that, "Nobody was taken off the radar in the Rufus Church death investigation, and that included Burk".

Tuesday's crash, which was withheld for a period of time by the state patrol, also resulted in a 130 gallon spill of diesel.

Newman Will Stand Trial On Child Molestation Charges, New Charges Filed In Pete Newman Kanukuk Sex Scandal:

The former camp director at Kanakuk Kamps now faces seven felonies stemming from his alleged sexual involvement with children.

Peter Newman, 34, Memphis, waived a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Taney County Associate Circuit Court on the first charges of statutory sodomy and sexual misconduct.

Additional charges were filed against Newman at today's hearing. They include five more felonies, including statutory sodomy, sexual misconduct and enticement of a child...he waived those as well.

Newman mug shot November

The additional charges were filed today according to online Taney County Circuit Court files and probable cause statements that were provided to me.

The reports filed in Taney County Circuit Court allege Newman indulged in games of naked truth or dare with an underage boy at Big Cedar Lodge in Hollister, and had mutual masturbation sessions with a 12-year-old at the K Dome, a place of worship for Kanakuk Kampers.

According to the new report, a signed statement was received from a father Sept. 28, whose boy told him that, "In March 2004, he and Pete were at the Kamp (in the off season) and went to the condo on the grounds where they engaged in mutual masturbation." The boy was 12 years-old at the time.

In March 2005, following a Kanakuk event, Newman talked the boy into going to his home and using the hot tub jets to "stimulate themselves," according to the report.

In December 2006, the report says, the boy met with Newman at another camp director's home and when they were alone "they would get naked in front of each other and engage in mutual masturbation. During the same time, they went to stay at the Big Cedar Lodge where they would play 'Truth or Dare and run around naked in front of each other."

The report said they would stimulate each other with the water jets in the hot tub and then masturbate each other. The boy was 15 at the time."Pete would always tell him what they did together was OK because they were together and not thinking about girls.

The PC statement says that Pete would always remind him not tell anyone, especially his parents.

"In another report, taken at the Child Advocacy Center Oct. 2, a 14-year-old told investigators that in 2008 when the boy was 13, he and Newman engaged in mutual masturbation and Newman asked the boy to let him put his penis in his mouth."Pete would always remind him not to tell anyone and would often call him weeks or months later to see if he had told anyone about what they did and then would ask if he was ready to do it again.

The report alleges that sexual activity even occurred when Newman was staying at the boy's house.

On another occasion, during a father and son retreat, "Pete took him from the cabin where he and his father were staying in and went to a vacant cabin where they engaged in mutual masturbation."

Another report taken at the Child Advocacy Center describes Newman taking a 12-year-old boy to the K Dome, a place of worship for Kanakuk Kampers, for a mutual masturbation session. Newman allegedly also had oral and anal sex with the 12-year-old in a motel room during a spiritual retreat.

Newman was re-booked today and had to post an additional $450,000 signature bond. The bond he was required to post get out of jail was $50,000 surety.

He has also been ordered to stay away from the alleged victims and from children under the age of 17.

No new scheduled court date was set at this setting.

UPDATE 11-19-09:

Newman is scheduled to be arraigned in Circuit Court on December 17th @ 10:30 a.m.

Son Arrested For Missing Mom And Grandmother's Disappearance In Arkansas:

An arrest has been made in the disappearance of two Bentonville, Arkansas women.

Nicolas James Johansen, 18, Garefied, AR, has been charged with hindering an apprehension or prosecution in connection with the disappearance of his mother, Christina Bishop-Johansen and his grandmother, Louise Bishop.

The women were last seen leaving Sam's Club on June 18th in Bentonville. Their car was found in the parking lot of Club Hots, a strip club in Jane, MO, with the message "Free car, just tow away," scrawled across the windshield.

A news release from the Bentonville Police Department says, "Johansen is the biological son of Christina Bishop, and his arrest was related to inconsistent statements he provided during the course of this investigation."

Authorities say that other details of the missing persons case and Johansen’s arrest will not be made available due to the active status of investigation.

BREAKING----Judge Closes Courtroom To Public In Newman Case:

The judge handling the Peter "Pete" Newman alleged sex scandal has closed the courtroom for his preliminary hearing.

Taney County prosecutor Jeff Merrell says that Judge Tony Williams sustained the states request to invoke the newly enacted Child Protection Act today.

Merrell charged Newman with one count of statutory sodomy, two counts of sexual misconduct involving a child under 15 by indecent exposure, and one count of felony enticement of a child after kampers from Kanakuk Kamps came forward with allegations that Newman molested them.

Every media outlet in this area does NOT ever identify victims of child molestation, so I am not sure why the judge closed the courtroom.

Every criminal case has two sides and what this means is that both sides of this case will not be allowed to be heard at this point.

Springfield Police Chief To Retire:

BREAKING NEWS: SPRINGFIELD POLICE CHIEF LYNN ROWE IS RETIRING EFFECTIVE JANUARY 15, 2009.

But he could step down as early as next month because of unused comp and vacation time.

Rowe, who became police chief in 1993, has had to deal with the pension shortfall and budget tightening in the last year that have made his job a bit more stressful.

He says he wants to pursue other professional avenues.

City Manger Gregg Buriss says he will name an interim chief while conducting a nationwide search for Rowe's replacement.

Also retiring is Chief Rowe's executive assistant, Marilyn Grier, who has worked for five police chiefs, and is the longest serving employee for the city with nearly 45 years of service.

McDonald County Jail Escapee Captured:

The man who escaped from the McDonald County jail yesterday has been captured in Noel.

Sheriff Robert Evenson says that about midnight last night a Noel police officer unknowningly approached Salwasser in the parking lot of a local filling station after recieving a suspicious person report.

Salwasser immediately bolted from the officer, then drew a handgun and pointed it at the officer. The officer fired two shots at Salwasser before he lost sight of him.

McDonald County Sheriff's Deputies, Noel Police, Missouri Highway Patrol, as well as officers from several other jurisdictions conducted a manhunt for Salwasser near the Tyson Foods Plant in Noel for about four hours.

Cops found Salwasser hiding in a wooded area not far from the Tyson plant and he was taken into custody without any further incident.

Salwasser, who was transported to the McDonald County Jail, is being held on forgery charges in additionon to the charges related to his escape.

Springfield Police Say Man Was Passing Bogus Bills; Forgery And CS Charges Filed

Cody Sapp

A Springfield man busted on drug and forgery charges could face federal charges as well for possessing phony money.

The bogus money was found in Cody C Sapp’s billfold when he was being processed on the drug charge and forgery charges.

Sapp was charged by the Greene County Prosecutor with one count of forgery and possession of a controlled substance.

During the past week over 15 incidents of counterfeit bills have been reported to police. In nearly all the cases the bills have been twenty dollar bills.

Cops are telling local businesses to be on the lookout for bogus bills being passed, and to closely examine twenty dollar bills that they are receiving from customers.

ALERT---Trustee Escapes From McDonald County Jail:

Walter Salwasser

McDonald County authorities are asking for the public's help in locating an inmate that escaped from the McDonald County jail this morning.

Walter Salwasser, 36, (aka Woody) had been a trustee at the jail for a little over a month.

Sheriff Robert Evenson says that between 5:30 and 6:00 this morning, Salwasser simply walked out of the jail. Deputies found Salwasser's jail issued jump suit near a dumpster where a bunch of old clothing had recently been discarded.

Salwasser who has ties to Neosho, Joplin and Tulsa OK., is a white male, 6'03"/ 220 lbs. His head is shaved and he has green eyes and a goatee and has numerous tattoos.

Salwasser was in jail on forgery charges and could possibly be armed.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact either the McDonald County Sheriff's Office at 417-223-4319 or your local law enforcement agency or call 9-1-1.

Former Neosho Band Teacher Charged With Sex Crimes Involving Students:

Brian Matthew Rash

A former band teacher at Neosho High School has been arrested on several sex charges involving former students.

Brian Matthew Rash, 37, Joplin, is accused of molesting two former male students in Oklahoma when they were about 11 year-old, those boys are now in their early twenties.

Rash had been the band instructor for Joplin Catholic Schools from 1995-1997. He then went to work for the school system in Wyandotte, OK, from 1997-2000--he then worked for at Neosho High School from 2000-2007.

Rash called authorities to his home in Wyandotte, Oklahoma home on June 24th to report that someone had destroyed and defaced his property.

In the probable cause statement filed with the charges, Deputy Aaron Bachman of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department said he discovered several items thrown about the yard, the doors to all three of Rash’s vehicles open and that someone had written "you are a child molester" down the side of Rash's truck in red crayon.

When Bachman asked Rash if he had any idea who could have committed the crime, he told the officer he believed that it was a former student whom he had given private music lessons.

Rash told the deputy that someone had plastered his property with fliers stating that he was a "child molester" three years ago.

When authorities questioned the former student, he told them that Rash had sexually molested him on multiple occasions.

He told cops that the sexual abuse started on an overnight band trip to Tulsa when Rash allegedly called him to his room, "to discuss band stuff."

The young man told cops that Rash plied him with hard liquor then began rubbing his shoulders. He says that after he was drunk, "Rash performed oral sex on him and flipped him over and put his tongue in his anus."

The victim says he passed out and when he awoke, "Brian was fondling him and trying to have anal sex with him."

The young man recounted for cops another alleged incident in which Rash was taking him home from a music lesson. He says Rash stopped the van and told him to crawl in the back to help him unload something....when he did, he says, "Rash raped him."

The victim also told investigators that Rash sexually assaulted him in the music room at a Wyandotte school.

The victim told investigators that he never told anyone about the alleged abuse until he was receiving grief and substance abuse counseling after the death of his brother.

Another former Wyandotte student of Rash's has come forward with similar allegations against the former band teacher.

During an interview September 18th with Dr. Debra Holmes, a psychologist hired by Rash's attorneys who is on the multidisciplinary team, Rash reportedly confessed to performing oral sex on a former band student at Neosho High School.

Felisa Rash, Rash's ex-wife, told investigators that Rash kept the French doors to the music room in their house locked when he gave private music lessons.

Felisa Rash says she and her ex-husband repeatedly fought over the first victim because, "he spent a lot of one on one" time with the the boy during 2000-2001.

Rash's former wife told cops that she found tickets to the symphony in St. Louis in May of 2001 and thought that Brian was going to "surprise her for their anniversary."

Rash reportedly told his ex-wife that he was planning on taking the first victim and spending the night with him. She says she and Brian got into a fight and he stated, "that he loved _____, and couldn't imagine his life without him."

Rash has been charged with two counts of first degree rape, four counts of rape by instrumentation and two counts of indecent proposals to a child.

He is being held in the Jasper County jail on $650,000 and is awaiting extradition to Oklahoma.

Sentinel Reporter (that's ME!) To Appear On CNN:

Sentinel Reporter Kathee Baird will be a featured guest on tonight's Nancy Grace show on CNN.

The Ozarks Sentinel has been following the case of Louise and Christina Bishop, the two missing Bentonville, Ark., women.

CNN contacted the Sentinel this morning to make arrangements for Baird, who has extensive knowledge of the case, to appear this evening.

At this time, it is not known if Baird will appear as a guest via video or phone.

*****Update 4:45 p.m.:

It will be a phoner.

CNN also expressed interest in running the Sentinel's report on the case on their CNN Headline news show today.

Cops Say That Helmlinger's Killer Wanted To Assume His Identity:

Evin Davis AKA Charles Hedstrom

Authorities in Berryville, Arkansas are releasing a few more details in the death of twenty four year-old Chris Helmlinger.

A news release from the Berryville police department says that Helmlinger was reported missing by relatives to the Carroll County Sheriffs office on October 4th.

Detective Robert Bartos says that Helmlinger was last seen at Tyson Foods in Green Forest on September 28th.

On October 18th, a resident of the Glen Echos trailer park discovered a "strange mound" of dirt and called police.....a shovel was found nearby. Helmlinger was found in the shallow grave, he had been shot once in the head.

Chris Helmling (family photo)

During the course of the investigation into Helmlinger's murder, investigators discovered that a man by the name of Charles Hedstrom spent a lot of time with Helmlinger while the two worked together at Tyson.

The night that Helmlinger's body was discovered, Hedstrom and his family packed up and left town, according to the release.

Witnesses also told cops that Hedstrom had been seen in the area where Helmlinger's body was found with a shovel.

When authorities started delving into Hedstrom's past, they discovered that the man was actually Evin Davis, and he was wanted in Missouri.

Police caught up with Davis' wife, Melissa Davis, when she went to Tyson Foods to pick up her last paycheck.

Melissa Davis (above)

At first Melissa Davis refused to tell authorities where they would find her husband. She was charged with hindering apprehension....a few days later prosecutors charged her with capital murder by accessory. She is being held on $1 MILLION dollars bond.

Evin Davis turned himself into authorities in McAllen, Texas after he learned of his wife's arrest.

Prosecutors say they believe Davis killed Helmlinger because he wanted to assume his identity or possibly because Helmlinger was going to turn Davis in....or a combination of both.

Evin Davis has been charged with capital murder and is being held without bond.

Soldier From Ozark Charged With Several Sex Offenses Involving Children:

A man from Ozark will stand trial for multiple sex offenses involving three girls who are related to him.

In July, Colby Sanders, 39, was charged with two counts of child molestation, one count of forcible rape, one count of forcible sodomy, one count of deviate statutory sodomy with a child under 14 and one count of statutory rape of a child under 14.

Sanders, who is in the Army, was in Korea when the charges were filed against him.

Christian County assistant prosecutor Janette Bleau says, "it took several weeks for US Marshals to get Sanders back to Christian County so that he could be arraigned on the charges."

Sanders attorney waived his right to preliminary hearing and he was automatically bound over for trial.

He is scheduled to be arraigned in circuit court on November 20th.

Parolee Facing Kidnapping, Rape Charges:

Dale Lee Stanford

A man arrested for the brutal rape of a woman in Boone County, Arkansas is a habitual offender according to Sheriff Danny Hickman.

Just a few days before the November 6th kidnapping and rape a Taney County deputy gave the alleged rapist a ride from Rigedale to Hollister.

That deputy identified Dale Lee Stanford from surveillance tape and identification the man provided him as being the same man.

On November 6th about 3:40 p.m. the woman went into Wild Bills convenience store near the Missouri/Arkansas state line and prepaid for her gas.

After fueling up, she got in her vehicle and left...as she was leaving a man rose from her back seat, put a knife to her throat and told her where to drive.

Sheriff Hickman says that Stanford instructed her to drive into Arkansas and then turn onto Cricket Cutoff Road. He says that Stanford then made her stop and get into the rear passenger area of the van where, at knife point, he repeatedly raped her for over two hours.

Sheriff Hickman says at one point during the attack the woman was, "able to grab the knife and stabbed the man several times in the back." He then pushed her out of the vehicle and drove away.

The woman made her way to back to Highway 65 where trooper Billy Martin found her and rendered aid. She was able to give officers some unique identifiers of her attacker....the description of some very distinct tattoos.

Boone County, AR, Sheriff Danny Hickman

The woman’s abandoned mini van was recovered about a mile from the scene of the rape. Deputies from Boone County and Taney County jointly worked together and developed the identity of a possible suspect after searching the van.

After the attack, Hickman says Stanford shaved his head, "but it was his tattoos that sealed the deal.".

The Taney County deputy who gave Stanford a ride says he saw the same tattoos the woman described on the man he gave the ride.

Stanford, who was recently released from prison in Louisiana, was arrested at the State Line RV Park near Omaha where he had been staying with his brother.

Taney County prosecutor Jeff Merrell has charged Stanford with kidnapping and armed criminal action.

Boone County prosecutors have charged him with rape, kidnapping, aggravated robbery, theft of property, terroristic threatening, use of a prohibited weapon and battery. They have also charged Stanford as a habitual offender.

If convicted of all the charges, Stanford could be sentenced to three life terms or possibly face the death penalty in Arkansas.

Stanford remains in the Boone County jail where he is being held on $1 MILLION dollars bond....he is also being held on a probation violation warrant out of Louisiana.

Family Increases Reward For Information On Missing Women:

Bishop's truck recovered from club Hot's

The family of two women who have been missing from Bentonville, Arkansas for nearly five months have increased the reward for information on their disappearance.

For one month (until 12-10-09) the reward will increase from $5,000 to $25,000 for any information leading to the whereabouts of Louise and Christina Bishop.

Louise, 81, and Christiana, 40, AKA Christina Johansen were last seen at the Sam's Club in Bentonville about 5:30 p.m. on June 18th.



A family member who went to check on the women after not hearing from them for a few days found that the alarm system for the house was not on, and the purchases the women made still on the counter.




Also missing was the women’s 1997 black Toyota pickup truck. That vehicle was located in the parking lot of a strip club, Club Hots, in Jane, Missouri on August 21st.

Investigator Tom Boyle says they believe the truck was dumped in the parking lot of the strip club not long after the women went missing. Managers of the strip club told cops that the vehicle sat there for weeks before they had it towed.

The towing company says when they picked up the truck there was a message scrawled on the windshield, in soap and what appears to be lipstick that read, "Free car, just tow away."

When the towing company made contact with George Skupien, the nephew of Louise Bishop, he told them not to touch the car anymore because his aunt and cousin were missing.

Bentonville police detective Tom Boyle says they then had the truck towed to the state crime lab to be processed.

Boyle says that in the first few months after the women's disappearance they were getting some tips and leads on the case, but those have since dried up.

Boyle says, "we haven't gotten any new leads on the case in some time, but with the increase of the reward were hopeful that we'll get the break we need."

"If someone was thinking about giving someone up for $5,000 maybe the added reward will push them to do the right thing," Boyle said.

If you have any information regarding the Bishop's disappearance you're asked to call the Bentonville Police Department at 479-271-3170, or Detective Tom Boyle at 479-271-5903.

If you don't want to contact police my email address is meyer_news@hotmail.com


Full Press Release:


The family of Christina Bishop, AKA Christina Johansen, age 40, and Louise Bishop, age 81, is now offering a reward of up to $25,000.00 for information relating to the disappearance of the two women. The reward may be payable to any person providing information leading to the whereabouts of Louise Bishop and/or Christina Bishop. This $25,000.00 reward will be in effect until December 10, 2009. This reward will also take the place of the previous $5,000.00 reward offered by the family on July 10, 2009.

Both Louise and her daughter Christina have been missing from their southeast Bentonville residence since June 18th, 2009.

The Bentonville Police Department is actively investigating their disappearance and foul play is suspected. The women’s 1997 black Toyota pickup was also initially unaccounted for, but has since been recovered. This truck was recovered by police on August 21st, 2009, after it was apparently abandoned at Club Hots in Missouri soon after the women’s disappearance.

Any person with information in this case is encouraged to contact the Bentonville Police Department at 479-271-3170, or Bentonville Police Detective Tom Boyle at 479-271-5903.

Prosecutor Files Motion To Use New Law In Kanakuk Kamp Directors Sex Case:

A new motion has been filed by the Taney County prosecutors office in the Pete Newman case.

Prosecutor Jeff Merrell filed the motion yesterday citing Missouri's new Child Protection Act that went into effect back in August.

Merrell says, "I filed the motion in an attempt to protect the victims in our case."

Judge Tony Williams will rule on the state's motion next Monday at 1 p.m.--that is the day before Newman's preliminary hearing.

Masons Lawyers Don't Want Murder Trial Heard In Jasper County:

Garrett Matthew Mason

Lawyers for a Vernon County teenager charged with two counts of first-degree murder have filed motions with the court saying they don't want their clients case heard in Jasper County.
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Garrett Matthew Mason (a.) is facing those charges for the May 24, 2009, stabbing deaths of his friends and classmates, Kylie Leyva (l.), 14, and Annie Reed, 18.

The Missouri Supreme Court assigned the case to Jasper County Judge David Dally last month.

Two Monett Police Officers Hurt In Scuffle With Irate Man:

Two police officers in Monett were injured in a scuffle with a man with a history of psychiatric problems last Friday (11-06-09.)

Monett police chief Tim Schweder says that his office received a report of a man who was threatening customers inside the Wal-Mart Supercenter about 3:30 p.m.

Schweder says that, Timothy Q. Caine, 54, of Monett, whom the department has dealt with before was irate when officers arrived on scene.

Schweder says that when officer Jeff Martinson told Caine to calm down, Caine allegedly charged at the officer and hit him in the chest.

As the struggle escalated, Sergeant Dennis Camp and Chief Schweder were called to the scene to assist Martinson.

Officer Martinson and Chief Schweder were transported to Cox Monett Hospital for treatment of injuries they sustained in the scuffle with Caine.

"The injuries weren't severe," according to Schweder. "I sprained my back and officer Martinson sprained his shoulder."

Officers have had to use a taser on Caine in the past, but none of the officers had one during this incident. "We only have two tasers for the whole department," Scheweder says. "They are expensive...I wish we had one for each of our twenty officers."

Caine was taken to St. John's Regional Medical Center in Joplin where he was placed on a 96-hour psychiatric hold.

Misdemeanor charges of assault on a law enforcement officer are pending against Caine.

UPDATED--Two Women Found Dead In House In Baxter County, Arkansas:

(image Baxter County Bulletin)

The Baxter County, Arkansas, Sheriff's Office is investigating the death of two in rural Mountain Home.

Sheriff John Montgomery says that his office received a 9-1-1 call at 3:58 PM reporting that two deceased women had been found inside a residence on Sharon Drive. The caller told dispatchers that one of the women had trauma to her body.

Preliminary investigation indicates that Louise V. Gipson, 79 and Nancy Vanette Frank, 46, were mother and daughter.

The bodies were discovered by a family member who had gone to check on Ms. Gipson.

Sheriff John Montgomery says that officers recovered two letters, believed to be written by Ms. Frank. One was discovered at the home of Ms. Frank and the second letter was discovered at the scene, the home of Louise Gipson.

One of the letters written by Ms. Frank, indicated that her mother was in poor health and did not want to become a burden to her family or her children.

The preliminary investigation leads investigators to believe that Nancy Vanette Frank shot and killed her mother, and then shot herself. A Ruger 357 revolver was discovered at the scene along with two spent shell casings.

UPDATE 11/9/2009 @ 11:50 p.m.:

The Baxter County Sheriff's office is investigating an apparent Murder/Suicide at a residence at 37 Sharon Drive, in Rural Mountain Home.

The victims, 46-year old Nancy Vanette Frank and 79-year old Louise V. Gipson, were related, mother and daughter.

At approximately 3:58 PM, Deputies from the Baxter County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to Sharon Drive.

Upon arrival, deputies found the bodies of two women who were deceased. The bodies were discovered by a family member who had gone to the residence to check on Ms. Gipson.

Sheriff's Investigators were called to investigate the scene. Two letters, believed to be written by Ms. Frank, were discovered. One was discovered at the home of Ms. Frank and the second letter was discovered at the scene, the home of Louise Gipson. One of the letters written by Ms. Frank, indicated that her mother was in poor health and did not want to become a burden to her family or her children.

A preliminary investigation leads investigators to believe that Nancy Vanette Frank first shot and killed Ms. Gipson and then shot herself. A Ruger 357 revolver was discovered at the scene with two spent shell casings.

The bodies are being sent to the Medical Examiner's Office in Little Rock to confirm the manner and cause of death.

Sheriff John Montgomery