Last Defendant In Atchley Park Murder Sentenced To Four Years:

Nathan Gibbs

A Lebanon teenager has been sentenced to four years in prison for his role in the beating death of Zach Jones two years ago.

Nathan Gibbs, who was fifteen years-old at the time of Jones' murder, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and unlawful use of a weapon charges.

In June of 2007 Jones and his friend, Matthew Bankston, had gone to a park with another friend to talk to Kimberly Dunkin and her husband Terry. The Dunkins were joined by Terry Dunkin's brother, Jerry Broyles, and Kimberly Dunkins son, Nathan Gibbs.

Testimony entered at Kimberly Dunkin's trial said they wanted to confront Jones and Bankston about text messages that were sent by mistake to Broyles' girlfriends cell phone.

Bankston told cops that the group hit Jones with a car and then beat he and Zach up with baseball bats and a metal rod. Bankston suffered traumatic brain injury in the attack and is paralyzed on one side as a result of the beating.

Jerry Broyles pleaded guilty to killing Jones and injuring Bankston shortly before his trial was to begin last November and was given four life sentences (life in the state of Missouri is thirty years.)

Kimberly Dunkin was sentenced to two life terms (which will be served concurrently) in April of 2009. The judge also sentenced her to twin 50-year sentences for armed criminal action.

Dunkin's husband, Terry, hanged himself in the Laclede County jail shortly after being charged with murder.

With credit for time already served, Gibbs could be paroled in just three months in Febrauary 2010.

Former Neosho Band Teacher Will Stand Trial On Chlid Molestation Charges:

A former band instructor for the Neosho School District will stand trial for allegedly sexually abusing one of his former students.

Brian M. Rash, 38, Joplin, is accused of allegedly molesting two boys who were former students of his either at his home, in his car or at a school in Wyandotte, Oklahoma.

Rash was charged last month with one count of first-degree rape, one count of first-degree attempted rape, four counts of rape by instrumentation, and two counts of making a lewd and indecent proposal to a child.

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. Deputies also found a broken window and slit screen at the residence.

Court documents reveal that the now 22-year-old former student has admitted to vandalizing Rash’s home because Rash molested him when he was a little boy.

The alleged victim told authorities the sexual abuse began on an overnight band trip to Tulsa when he was about 11 years-old and continued for three years.

Ben Loring, chief assistant prosecutor in Ottawa County, says that Rash's attorney, Ken Gallon, made a motion during his client's prelim that the state had not presented enough evidence to bind his client over for trial. The judge disagreed with the demurrer and bound Rash over for trial.

When asked if there were any plea negotiations going on in the case Loring said, "normally we would make an offer, but in this case his attorney came in and said not to even bother."

Another former Wyandotte student also alleges that Rash molested him on multiple occasions when he was a child.

Rash, who worked for Wyandotte schools from 1997 - 2000, the Neosho R-5 School District from 2000 - 2007, and Jolin Catholic Schools from 1995 - 1997, is scheduled to be formally arraigned in District Court on January 15, 2010.

Conspiracy To Commit Murder Charges Filed Against Nixa Man:

Jimmie M. Williamson

4:14 p.m. BREAKING NEWS: CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER CHARGES FILED AGAINST JIMMIE WILLIAMSON OF NIXA.

UPDATED 6:26 p.m:

A Nixa man has been charged with trying to hire someone to kill his estranged wife and stepson.

Prosecutors in Christian County charged Jimmie Michael Williamson, Jr., with conspiracy to commit murder after the man allegedly met with an undercover cop in Ozark yesterday (12-28-09) to set the plan in motion.

According to the probable cause statement, a "cooperating citizen" contacted police last week and told them of Williamson's alleged plan. The informant told authorities that if they did not intervene, "Jimmie had several shady contacts that might be willing to take him up on his offer."

Cops then had their informant set up a meeting with Williamson where it is alleged that Williamson offered the undercover officer, who was wearing a wire, $15,000 to have his family killed.

Court documents say that Williamson then drew the cop a diagram of his house at 940 Riverdale Road. When the cop asked Williamson if he still wanted to go through with the deal he said, "I don't see any other way. She's going to take me for everything. I don't have anything left. Either go all out to jail for ever, forever, forever, or just give her all my money."

Jimmie Williamson was in a motorcycle accident in which he lost a leg and received a substantial insurance settlement.

According to online court records, Donna Williamson filed for an order of protection (ex parte) order November 30th after an alleged domestic assault at the couples home. She and then filed for divorce on December 9th. Her son, Chad Cypret, was living in the basement of the couples home according to the probable cause statement.

It is alleged that Williamson told the undercover officer that he could pay him $2,500 a week every other week, but that once he got inside the house he could have anything he wanted including a "Harley in the garage."

When the cop asked Williamson about an alibi he pointed to an ankle bracelet that he had been outfitted with for another crime and stated, "they could located him anytime by pressing a button."

After the alleged meeting wrapped up, Williamson who left in a pickup truck, was pulled over and arrested. When cops searched him the found a loaded 9mm pistol that had been reported stolen out of Joplin.

While he was being questioned by cops about his alleged involvement in the murder-for-hire scheme, Williamson told investigators that "due to medication he was taking he really didn't remember most of the meeting with the undercover cop....and then he told them that he really didn't want his wife killed."

At the time of his December 28th arrest, Williamson was out of jail on a half million dollars bond for the alleged November 30th domestic assault. In that case he is also facing firearm and explosive charges as well as a drug paraphernalia charges. Cops say they found a meth pipe on Williamson when they searched him.

In addition to the conspiracy to commit murder charge, Williamson is also facing charges of receiving stolen property and unlawful possession of a weapon related to the December 28th arrest.

Williamson, who was formally arraigned, has pleaded not guilty. He is being held without bond and is due back in court on January 5, 2010.

Peter "Pete" Newman's Lawyer Wants His Clients Sex Scandal Trial To Be Held In Another County:

The lawyer for a former christian camp director charged with several alleged sex offenses involving underage boys wants the case moved out of Taney County.

Attorney Tom Carver filed a motion for a change of venue last week asking that Pete Newman's trial be moved to another county. So far there has been no ruling on the motion which could be ruled on at Newman's next court appearance on January 21st.

Springfield Man Charged In Stone County Internet Sex Sting:

On December 23, 2009, Stone County Deputies with the assistance of the Greene County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at the home of John Allen Grabber.

Grabber, 31, who was not at his Springfield home at the time the search warrant was executed, was busted as a result of an ongoing undercover sting operation to lure Internet predators.

Court documents say that Grabber started chatting with an undercover deputy in a Yahoo chat room on June 8, 2009. They go on to say that Grabber sent to photos of himself to the operative through Yahoo photo sharing before he sent a request asking the deputy posing as a girl to view him on web cam. It is alleged that Grabber sent pornographic images and engaged in a sexually explicit conversation with the cop posing as the teen.

Stone County prosecutor Matt Selby has charged Grabber with sexual misconduct involving a child.

He turned himself in to Greene County authorities on Christmas Eve and was released after posting $10,000 bond.

Eureka Springs Man Charged In Hatchet Attack At Downtown Bar:

Authorities in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, are trying to get a man who allegedly attacked a downtown bar owner with a hatchet committed to a state mental hospital.

Court records say that Daniel J. Larmay, 49, of Eureka Springs, was arrested last week (12-19-09) at a bar he had been banned from, Eureka Live on North Main Street. Larmay had been banned from the bar after a previous incident, and when he returned Saturday, he allegedly walked behind the bar, grabbed co-owner Nancy Faber by the hair and threw her to the floor and raised a hatchet in the air.

Roger Faber, the woman's husband, and another bar patron grabbed the weapon and held Larmay down until cops got to the bar.

On the ride to the police station, Larmay, who was handcuffed with his hands behind him, was combative and able to get his hands in front of him.

Officer Brian Williams stopped his cruiser and removed Larmay from the unit to secure his hands behind his back again....that's when Larmay shoved the cop and attempted to flee. Larmay continued to fight with Williams and was pepper sprayed.

While Larmay was being processed into the jail he again became combative and was pepper sprayed again.

After being told he was going to be taken to the Carroll County jail, Larmay ran face-first into a wall and fell to the floor.

Eureka Springs Chief of Police Earl Hyatt says, "it kinda surprised everybody to be honest with you. Things like that don't happen very much around here....I'm just glad someone was there to stop it."

Larmay has been charged with attempted capital murder, battery, terroristic threatening, and commercial burglary.

Judge Rules That Alleged Killers Of Sheldon's Should Be Tried Separately

Darren Winans (l.) and Matthew Laurin

A judge in Jasper County has ordered that the two men accused of killing Robert and Ellen Sheldon in October of 2008 should be tried separately.

Court records indicate that the trial of Darren Winans and Matthew Laurin will be held in Jasper County with juries imported for the men's trials.

Robert and Ellen Sheldon


Although prosecutors have not announced yet whether or not the will seek the death penalty, it appears that Special Prosecutor Norman Rouse may do that. Online court records say that Rouse announced his intention to file aggravating charges in the Sheldon's deaths.

Winans and Laurin are due to appear in court again on January 25, 2010.

"Maverick" Scheduled For Bench Trial In February 20-10:

Mark E. Sager aka "Maverick"

A man who allegedly posed as a retired ATF agent in Stone County is scheduled to stand trial on charges of impersonating a law enforcement officer on February 23, 2010, in Galena.

Stone County Prosecutor Matt Selby says that Mark Sager, 48, aka "Maverick", lived on a houseboat at Indian Point at the time of his June 2009 arrest and alleges that the man told several local aw enforcers and other people in the community that he was an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

Stone County Sheriff Richard Hill says that, " 'Maverick' had an old police car that he outfitted with lights, sirens and two way radio communications. He allegedly told cops that although he was retired, he kept his car ready to assist where needed, and carried a firearm as protection from people he had dealt with in the past. He would also walk around the marina with an exposed weapon, handcuffs, pager, phone and a spare magazine on his belt."

Hill says" 'Maverick' "would back" up law enforcement officers on different occasions by arriving at the scene of a traffic stop or a call for service. Law enforcers became suspicious of 'Maverick' when he started becoming a fixture at different crime scenes.

When he showed up to assist officers on a traffic stop on June 13th in Indian Point cops decided it was time to run a criminal background check on the man.

What they found was disurbing. Sager had been charged with capital murder for the September 2, 1977, death of 14 year-old Julie Wittmeyer. Wittmeyer was a classmate of Sager's in Platte County (northern Kansas City.) A jury convicted Sager of manslaughter in Wittmeyer's death.

Sager briefly returned to his houseboat and a restaraunt he co-owned at Indian Point but has since relocated to Kearney, Missouri, according to court records.

An order of protection was filed against Sager in Green County in late June, and records show it was promptly dismissed by the woman who asked the court for protection from her "boyfriend" didn't file the necessary paperwork for the ex parte in the correct county.





****Greg Brock contributed to this report.

Toddler Murder Suspect On The Run From Joplin Authorities:

BYRON D. LANG---WANTED FOR MURDER BY THE JOPLIN POLICE DEPARTMENT

The suspected murderer in the September 2008 death of a Joplin toddler has skipped bond. Now cops and the bonding company who posted Byron D. Lang's million dollar bail want him back behind bars.

Byron Lang (courtesy Joplin police)

Cpl Chuck Niess says that Byron Lang failed to appear in court and is believed to have fled to Texas. Recent information obtained by the Joplin Police Department is that Lang has returned to the Joplin area, probably for Christmas

Kyler DeShawn Jones

On September 2nd, 2008, two-year old Kyler DeShawn Jones was taken to St. John’s Express Care at 1313 S. Range Line Road unconscious and not breathing by his babysitter....the little boy was pronounced dead about 15 minutes later.

Investigative reports say that the little boy had multiple bruises covering his body. An autopsy performed on the toddler was inconclusive, however, the coroners ruling revealed that Kyler's death wasn't an accident.

After a five-and-a-half month long investigation authorities said the cause of Kyler's death was blunt force trauma to the the little boys abdomen.

Lang with his son (courtesy of Joplin police)

The Joplin police department is asking for the public's help in finding Lang. Niess says if you see him call 9-1-1 or the Joplin PD at 417-623-3131.

UPDATED: Newton County Man Charged With Trying To Hire "Hit Man" To Kill His Wife:

A Newton County man has been charged for allegedly trying to hire someone to kill his wife.

Prosecutor Jake Skouby says that John R. Badgwell, Jr., 40, Joplin, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder after Badgwell met with a confidential informant on Monday (12-21-29) and gave them $40 to buy a gun to kill his wife, Debra.

According to the probable cause statement filed with the charges, investigators with the Newton County sheriff's office say that a confidential informant contacted a detective and told him of Badgwell's plan in October.

Court records say that when the CI and Badgwell met this past Monday, Badgwell allegedly gave the informant the money to buy the weapon and nothing else with the money. It also says that he wanted the job done when his children were not at home.

The probable statement says that the meeting between the CI and Badgwell at Quick Trip in Neosho was recorded. It also alleges that Badgwell told the informant that if the hit man was not willing to do the job for him that he would kill his wife himself because "she was spending all his money.”

Badgwell is being held without bond in the Newton County jail.

UPDATED:

When Badgwell was formally arraigned in associate circuit court on December 29th bond was set and he was released after posting $50,000 bail. Some of the bond conditions was that he not have any contact with his estranged wife or return to the family home.

On December 23rd, Debra Badgwell filed for an order of protection from her husband....it was granted.

His preliminary hearing has been set for February 1, 2010.

Candidate Fails To File Necessary Paperwork For 62nd District Seat; Ballot Down To Two:

The list of candidates for the seat to represent the 62nd District is down to two.

Assistant Deputy Director of The Missouri Ethics Commission, Stacey Heislen, says that attorney James Rynard "failed to file a financial interest statement with our office by the deadline." When the comittee met on December 18th, "they disqualified Rynard," according to Heislen.

Taney County Clerk Donna Neeley says that she "was notified by the Secretary of State's office and told to remove Rynard from the ballot." This was after military and overseas ballots had been mailed according to Neeley. Neeley says that her office has received three ballots back from those mailings, "there's nothing we can do about those because they are a cast ballot."

In September Rynard was tapped by the 62nd Distrcit Democratic Committee to run for the seat that was vacated when Rep. Dennis Wood (R) was appointed presiding commissioner of Stone County by Governor Jay Nixon.

The Missouri House of Representatives 62nd District covers Southern Stone and Western Taney County.

Rynard, who is an attorney in Kimberling City, says that he is, "moving to the Kansas City area and won't be eligible to represent the district. That's the reason I didn't file the necessary paperwork."

Neeley says the cost to reprint the ballots in Taney County is going to cost taxpayers about $3,000.

Stone County election clerk Donna McConkey says that her office was notified by Secretary of State Robin Carnahan's office on Monday about the commission's disqualification of Rynard. "None of our ballots had gone out yet," McConkey said. "We were told that we wouldn't have the correct ballots back until next week (12-28-09) but we got them back early and are putting them in envelopes right now for people on our permanent absentee list."

McConkey says the cost to reprint the ballots for Stone County was $2,000.

The two candidates left on the February 2, 2010, ballot are realtor Jane Ayres and Libertarian Patty Tweedle.

Jada's Story Ends:

Jada Harper (family photo)

A little girl who touched the hearts of thousands of people died last week after fighting a courageous battle with brain cancer.

In September I wrote about how that little girl, Jada Harper, touched the hardened heart of a crime reporter. Jada was just six years-old when she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor back in June of this year. Little Jada has been treated in Little Rock and had been at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center at the Texas Medical Center in Houston since July.

In September her family was told that there really wasn't much else that doctors could do for the little girl after she had a seizure and was placed on a ventilator. The prognosis....she could get stay in Houston and receive more radiation and possible live six months, or the family could try and get her to a hospital in Harrison where she might live for three months.

Jada's parents, Savannah and Jason Surface, decided to bring her home to live out her final days surrounded by family and friends, but knew that they couldn't afford the cost of an air ambulance.

That was until the little girl's principal, Andrea Martin, called a friend who worked for Fed Ex. In an economy where every penny counts, Fed Ex arranged for an air ambulance to get the terminally ill little girl back home to Arkansas. The entire $11,000 tab for the mercy flight was payed for by the air freight giant.

Jada had to live at Hospice House in Harrison for a little over a month, but was then able to be taken to her Green Forest home where she remained until her death.

First National Bank of Green Forest has established a fund to help the family with expenses related Jada's care.

Jada Harper Donation Fund

c/o First National Bank of Green Forest

P.O. Box 1818

Harrison, Ark., 72602

UPDATED: Mountain Home Police Make Arrest In Dr. David Millstein's Murder:

Gary Wayne Parks

Authorities in Mountain Home, Arkansas say they have made an arrest in the three and a half year-old murder mystery of Dr. David Millstein.

The lead investigator into Millstein's murder, Lt. Nevin Barnes, arrested Millstein's thirty eight year-old stepson, Gary Wayne Parks, in Germantown, Tennessee early this morning (12-21-09) on felony murder charges.

Millstein was found stabbed to death June 18, 2006 at his home at 1707 Stephen Court at 9:45 p.m. after they were asked to check on his well-being after the doctor had missed a weekend appointment.
-

Millstein was married to Lois Parks, however the couple was estranged and she lived in Little Rock at the time of his death.

It is not known at this time if Parks, who is being held in Germantown, will waive or fight extradition back to Arkansas. He is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow and we should learn then what the next steps in getting Parks back to Arkansas will be.

Mountain Home police chief Carry Manuel says that Parks has been looked at for a long time in connection to his stepfathers death. Manuel would not comment on whether or not police had any other suspects in Millsteins murder or planned to make additional arrests. However, in June of 2008, Manuel said that police were interested in two suspects, both of whom were related to Millstein.

UPDATE 12-22-09:

Parks waived extradition and was transported back to Mountain Home where he pleaded not guilty. The case file has been sealed at the request of prosecutors.

UPDATE 02-24-10:

The case file continues to be sealed at the request of prosecutors.

UDATE 12-17-10:

Nearly a year after being charged with murder, the proabable cause affidavit against Gary Wayne Parks remains sealed.  He is scheduled to stand trial for his stepfather's death on January 24, 2011.

UPDATED: Florida Escapee Arrested In Rigedale After Being On The Lam From Cops For Over Thirty Years:

Oscar Eugene Richardson aka Eugene Ward

Update at bottom

A man who escaped from a Florida work release center in 1979 while serving a sentence for armed robbery was apprehended in Ridgedale over the weekend.

Oscar Eugene Richardson, 61, was arrested at his home on Saturday as a result of information received through a police hot line. He is the first fugitive captured as part of Florida's "12 Days of Fugitives" campaign.

Richardson escaped from a Kissimmee Work Release center in March 1979 after serving two years of a 10-year sentence, for robbing a drug and convenience store in Tampa in two separate holdups in 1977.


At the time of his arrest Saturday, Richardson was living under the alias of his father, Eugene Ward, and using a fake Social Security number, according to authorities.

Taney County associate circuit court judge Tony Williams set Richardson's bond at $75,000 which he posted.....and Florida officials are livid at the judges decision to let an escaped convict have the option to post any sort of bond.

Taney County Sheriff Jimmie Russell says that he and several of his deputies know Richardson, "who has been a model citizen, good friend and good neighbor to folks here."

Sheriff Jimmie Russell


"His past, and arrest were surprising to myself and several of my deputies, " the sheriff said. "If I were called into a court of law to testify on his character while he has been living here, I would be willing to do it for him." Russell said

Richardson also did handy man and lawn work for the Herschend family who own Silver Dollar City.


Dee Wampler


Richardson has hired attorney Dee Wampler to represent him. Wampler said in a press release that his client, "plans to eventually voluntarily return to Tampa, Florida, to save the authorities time and expense," in regard to extradition and travel costs.

Wampler says in the release that Richardson has "had no criminal record (except for Florida) and has enjoyed a spotless record." It goes on to say, "he has been honest in every way, with no criminal record, no arrests, no violations of any type whatsoever."

The 12 Days of Fugitives campaign, was launched on December 7, and is aimed at capturing Florida's oldest and most violent prison escapees, the departments' statement said. Newspapers are featuring the fugitives in print and online photo galleries and the Florida Outdoor Advertising Association and its member companies are providing donated space on billboards.

More than $22,000 in reward money is available -- up to $2,500 per fugitive -- for information leading to their capture. The reward money is provided by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Corrections and the Florida Police Chiefs' Association.


UPDATE January 5, 2010 @9:55 p.m.:


A man who fled to Missouri after he escaped from a Florida work release center in 1979 is facing new charges, this time from the state of Missouri.

The Missouri Department of Revenue has filed charges against Oscar Eugene Richardson for allegedly not filing state income taxes for the last three years.

Richardson, who was arrested at his Rigedale home last month on the escapee charges, had been living under the name of his father, Eugene Ward, and using a fake Social Security number for the past 30 years, according to authorities.

There is no word on whether or not the feds will file tax evasion charges against Richardson as word of the warrant for his arrest was posted online after state and federal offices closed.

Taney County associate circuit court judge Tony Williams raised the ire of Florida officials when he set Richardson's bail for the Florida charges at $25,000, which he quickly posted.

Attorney Dee Wampler, who represents Richardson, says "I've known for about 10 days that the Missouri Department of Revenue was investigating Oscar. The fact that a warrant was issued for his arrest is news to me."

Springfield Woman Charged In Ice Pick Attack:

A Springfield woman has been charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action after allegedly stabbing a 29 year-old man six times with an ice pick in the Chili's parking lot yesterday afternoon (12-22-09.)

Cops say that Caitlen Shae Watkins, 18, of Springfield attacked Lonnie Sowersby after she said he took her parking place at the S. Glenstone restaurant. Witnesses told police that Watkins and her boyfriend fled the scene, but provided a license plate number for the car the couple were in. Sowersby’s injures were not life threatening.

Watkins was located by Springfield Police at her residence and taken into custody.

She is being held in the Greene County Jail on $75,000 bond.

MSSU Employee Charged Wth Child Porn Charges After Kiddie Porn Was Found On His College Issued Computer:

After receiving a tip from Missouri Southern State University police, an employee of the college turned himself in to authorities after child pornography charges were filed against the man.

The investigation began on December 8, 2009 after Joplin Police received the tip from campus police that child pornography was discovered on a computer that was issued to Val Christensen by MSSU. That computer has been seized. On December 21, 2009 Christensen turned himself in.

The investigation was conducted by Joplin Detectives who are members of the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.

Jasper County Man Pleads Guilty In Federal Court To Trafficking Kiddie Porn:

Matt J. Whitworth, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Jasper, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court today to possessing and distributing child pornography over the Internet.

Donald Lee Zaerr, 58, of Jasper, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge James C. England this morning to the charges contained in a Nov. 23, 2009, federal indictment.

Zaerr admitted that he distributed at least four images of child pornography over the Internet on Oct. 7, 2009. Zaerr also admitted that he was in possession of child pornography on Nov. 5, 2009.

Federal agents and members of the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force executed a state search warrant at Zaerr’s residence on Nov. 5, 2009. Officers discovered images of child pornography on Zaerr’s computer, which he had posted on the Internet using file-sharing software.

Authorities say they took a dozen computers, four thumb drives, 28 computer disks and two notebooks from fifty eight year-old Donald Zaerr's Jasper home that had at least ten thousand images of kids as young as 1 year-old being sexually molested.

According to court documents, Joplin cyber crimes Detective Chip Root found massive files of kiddie porn on the Internet and traced the IP address back to Zaerr's residence. The web address that those images were found at was issued to Zaerr's deceased father.

By pleading guilty today, Zaerr also agreed to forfeit to the government 12 computers, four thumb drives and 28 CDR disks, all of which were used to commit the offenses.

Under federal statutes, Zaerr is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 30 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $500,000.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Crane Man Arrested For Threatening To Shoot Up School:

Man Arrested For Threatening To Shoot Up School

A man from Crane is in the county lockup for an incident in which he threatened to shoot up the Hurley School, according to the Stone County Sheriff’s Department.

Travis J. Walker, 38, was charged Wednesday with making a terrorist after he made threats to come to the school with a firearm threatened and "shoot up the Hurley School", according to Stone County Sheriff Richard Hill. Hill says that Winfree "was unhappy with discipline procedures the school was enacting with his son and another student."

Winfree is being held on a $100,00 cash only bond.

Former Band Director Must File As A Sex Offender For Having Sex With Student; Victim's Family Wins $250,000 Judgement:

Alison Peck registered sex offender

The former band director at Greenfield High School was sentenced in Dade County today to five years probation for two counts of statutory rape of a student in three different counties.

According to the probable cause statements 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 Lawrence County apartment on numerous occasions.

Prosecutors in Dade County filed two counts of statutory rape against the former educator after the boy, who is the same victim in all of the cases against Peck, told them that Peck would pick him up on a road near his home and that they would drive to Fiddler's Ford Road where they would have sex.

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

What that means is that she received five years probation in three counties for four counts of statutory, one count of statutory sodomy in the three counties and must register as a sex offender. Those sentences are to run concurrently (at the same time.)

Attorney Steve Meier

According to Peck's attorney, Steve Meier, Peck has lost her teacher certification, "she just went ahead and mailed it in," he says. Alison has taken accountability for her actions and has taken the necessary steps to try and make this right. Hopefully, she can pick herself up and find a new passion and become a productive member of society."

The father of the victim hired attorney Craig Heidemann who filed a civil lawsuit against Peck in Greene County for $1.9 MILLION dollars plus attorneys fees. Peck appeared in court for the civil motion yesterday and was ordered to pay $250,000 plus $25,000 in attorneys fees by Judge Mark Fitzsimmons.

Peck must now register as a sex offender.

Bluford Convicted Of Lesser Charge In Partners Stabbing Death:

It took a Christian County jury about five hours to convict Gerald Bluford of voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action today (12-17-09).

Bluford had been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action for the stabbing death of his partner, Eric Eidson, at their condominium in Nixa on November, 20 2007.

Investigators had to use "moon suits" to process the crime scene. One of the witnesses, an emergency medical responder, testified that it was the bloodiest scene he'd ever seen in 17 years on the job. Bluford admitted he stabbed Eidson but said it was in self defense after Eidson attacked him. Dr. Keith Norton testified that Eidson was stabbed seventy eight times and that a stab wound to the neck lacerated the jugular vein, ultimately causing the victim’s death.

Prosecutor Ron Cleek said the defenses medical expert shouted and cursed at the judge during the four day trial.

Bluford is facing a sentence between five and fifteen years for the conviction. His attorney says he plans to appeal the verdict. Judge Mark Orr has scheduled a motion hearing and sentencing for Feburary 19, 2010.

****Chris Cluck contributed to this story

Nixa Woman Sentenced To Federal Prison For Child Molestation:

Matt J. Whitworth, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Nixa, Mo., woman has been sentenced to federal prison for receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet.

Amy Vogt, 35, of Nixa, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Dorr this morning (12-17-09) to 17 years and six months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Vogt to register a sex offender and serve a lifetime of supervised released following her term of imprisonment.

On Sept. 15, 2009, Vogt pleaded guilty to receiving and distributing child pornography and to possessing child pornography in state court.In February 2009, FBI agents contacted Vogt after receiving an investigative lead that indicated she had e-mailed 15 images of child pornography to an Illinois man, who was posing as a woman.

Vogt admitted to FBI agents that she had sent the images after the Illinois man requested images of little girls from ages three to 14.Vogt also described several instances where she broadcast herself via webcam molesting her son as he slept.

Federal investigators discovered 139 images of child pornography on a computer seized by FBI agents. Numerous instant message sessions were also recovered, which refer to sexual acts perpetrated against children. In those messages, Vogt described numerous acts of sexual assault that she had perpetrated against the boy.

Vogt is also facing a charge of first-degree child molestation in Christian County Circuit Court.

Former Lawrence County Dispatcher Sues Sheriff And Local Paper:

A former Lawrence County dispatcher has sued Lawrence County sheriff Brad Delay and the local newspaper The Lawrence County Record for defamation of character.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Springfield on behalf of Shannon Mitchell. Mitchell claims in the lawsuit that Sheriff Brad Delay inaccurately told the Lawrence County Record that she was on duty when an inmate escaped, and that she was dismissed for violations of jail policy related to the escape.

The lawsuit filed in federal court in Springfield says Mitchell's reputation was harmed by the Record's report. Mitchell claims the sheriff told Record editor Kathy Fairchild that she was dismissed for violating jail policy related to the escape of an inmate in July.

The lawsuit alleges that the sheriff told the newspaper that Mitchell was on duty at the time of the escape and was reported in the Aug. 5 edition of the Lawrence County Record to the detriment of the plaintiff’s reputation.

Mitchell claims that the sheriff’s statements implied that she was “in some way responsible for and may have committed a crime.”

According to court documents the newspaper reported in the article that an inmate had escaped, two jail employees were fired and that the jail had been closed, according to the lawsuit. But the plaintiff “was in no way connected to the escape of the inmate, was not on duty at the time of the escape and was never sought nor questioned about her possible involvement in such escape” by either the sheriff or the newspaper.

In July there were two escapes of inmates from the Lawrence County jail, which eventually led to the closing of the jail on July 29th. The July 25th escape was followed by what has been characterized as “a riot” among the remaining prisoners, during which an electrical conduit was pulled down and a blackout took place inside the jail.

Delay cited numerous safety concerns — malfunctioning locks, destroyed cameras and a lack of lighting and closed the jail.

Mitchell is seeking $75,000 and punitive damages in her suit.

Springfield Man Sentenced To Life In Prison For Monte Ruby's Death:

Jeffrey Bolden

A Springfield man learned his fate today (12-14-09) for the murder and assault of a hospital security guard Monty Ruby.

Jeffrey L. Bolden, 42, was sentenced to life in prison for the August 2008 murder of Cox North hospital guard Monte Ruby. Bolden was convicted of

Ruby, 62, was helping restrain Bolden after police brought Bolden to the hospital for treatment for a dog bite and other injuries he suffered while being arrested.

Monte Ruby

In addition to the life sentence, which is thirty years in the state of Missouri, Circuit Judge Kevin Crane also sentenced Bolden to seven years for the assault charge. Those sentences will run concurrently (at the same time.)

UPDATED: Trial Underway In Christian County Stabbing Death:

A jury has been seated and one witness was called in Christian County for the November 2007 stabbing death of forty year-old Eric Eidson.

Gerald Bluford, 49, is charged with the second degree murder and armed criminal action for the stabbing death of Eidson.

After Bluford cleaned the knife and changed his clothing he went outside to the parking lot where the manager of the complex found him with a cut on his hand. He told the manager that he had killed his partner in self defense. He then unlocked the door where the manager discovered Eidson dead on the kitchen floor in a "horrific pool of blood."

The building manager called police who processed the crime scene in "moon suits." Bluford was arrested and taken to a hospital to be treated for his wound. He was then transported and booked into the Christian County jail.

The state called one witness to the stand today, Jimmie Eidson, the victim's father. Prosecutor Ron Cleek says he expects the trial to last through Thursday.

Cleek says that he is asking for the maximum penalty, which is thirty years, in the case.

Pineville Lawyer Says Newton County Sheriff Broke The Law:

Attorney Duane Cooper

A lawyer in Pineville says that Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland broke the law when he and his staff refused to let him into the county jail to see his client.

Attorney Duane Cooper says he went to the jail about 4:20 p.m. Wednesday and a jailer refused to let him in saying, "they were feeding the prisoners." Cooper says he told staffers that he would wait until the inmates where finished with their meal and then go in.

According to Cooper, he waited a bit before calling Judge John Le Page to inform him that the sheriff was refusing to let him in to see his client.

Sheriff Ken Copeland

Cooper says, "I had to call on-duty Judge Le Page again who issued a court order to let me have access to my client." Cooper says that Sheriff Copeland "called and cussed me out and told me that he would let him see the inmate when he wanted to let him see the inmate."

Cooper, who never got to see his client that night, is in the process of filing a complaint against the sheriff with Newton County prosecutor Jake Skouby. Cooper wants Skouby to recuse himself because he deals with Sheriff Copeland on a daily basis and ask that the complaint be forwarded to Attorney General Chris Koster's office.

State law says that attorney's may see their clients at any time. McDonald County Sheriff Robert Evenson says that attorneys have unrestricted access to their clients at any time in his facility.

"At the very least Sheriff Copeland should be charged with a class A misdemeanor for refusing to let me in to see my client," according to Cooper. "This could also be the basis of a forfeiture of office complaint."

Prosecutor Drops Sexual Misconduct Charges Against Newman:

Taney County prosecutor Jeff Merrell has dropped two counts of sexual misconduct against former Kanakuk Kamp director Peter "Pete" Newman.

Merrell says that "the decision was made that those counts were superfluous to what he was facing and wouldn't enhance any sentence that he could face."

Newman was charged in September and November with several sex crimes involving young boys who had been "kampers" at the Christian based youth camp.

Merrell says that at this point he doesn't believe that there will be a plea offer in Newman's cases and, there are currently no negotiations be discussed with Newman's attorney Tom Carver.

Newman was bound over for trial last month and is scheduled to be formally arraigned in Taney County circuit court on December 17th.

Springfield Police Thwart Would Be Robber:

Springfield police officers thwarted a planned robbery at the Hardees on E. Elm Tuesday night (12-08-09) after a tipster called cops about 9:30 p.m. and told them that an armed man was sitting in the restaurant.

When cops arrived at the business they found Binesh R. Khelawan, 36, of Springfield sitting at a table with a gun and a note indicating that he was planning to rob the business.

Khelawan has been charged with first degree robbery and booked into the Greene County jail on $50,000 bond.

U. S. Postal Inspectors Bust Mountain Home, AR Man In Pot Sting:

A twenty five year-old man from Mountain Home, AR was busted after postal inspectors tipped off the Mountain Home police department that a large shipment of pot was on its way to the home of Gilbert Jesse, Jr.

Mountain Home Police Chief Carry Manuel says a package containing approximately fourteen pounds of marijuana was delivered by a postal agent. That shipment was seized at Jesse's residence just after the delivery along with additional marijuana and some Ecstasy that was found in the house.

Chief Manuel said Gilbert Jesse Jr. has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms. He is being held on $50,000 bond.

Arkansas State Police assisted Mountain Home Police and Postal Service agents in the sting.

Operation "Family Tree" Nets Several Meth Convictions:

Matt J. Whitworth, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Flemington, Mo., woman has pleaded guilty in federal court to her role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

This conviction is a result of Operation Family Tree, a multi-agency investigation into shipments of large quantities of methamphetamine from Arizona for distribution in Greene County, Mo.

Lori G. Weese, 49, of Flemington, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge James C. England on Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, to her role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Greene County from December 2004 to November 2006. Weese also pleaded guilty to her role in a money-laundering conspiracy involving drug-trafficking proceeds.

Weese admitted that she received shipments of methamphetamine from co-conspirators in Arizona, which she distributed to others in southwest Missouri – including her three daughters, who are co-defendants. During the conspiracy, Weese received multi-pound shipments of methamphetamine on a weekly basis, for which she paid up to $20,000 per pound.

Weese paid approximately $6 million to her suppliers for the shipments of methamphetamine. Weese paid for the methamphetamine by hiding the cash inside the door of a vehicle that was driven back to the suppliers in Arizona. Drug proceeds were also deposited into bank accounts by co-conspirators. Weese also conducted wire transfers of the drug-trafficking proceeds to Arizona or Mexico.

Weese is among 16 co-defendants who have pleaded guilty as a result of Operation Family Tree. Also pleading guilty to their roles in the drug-trafficking conspiracy are Weese’s daughters, Sarah A. Weese, 23, of Nixa, Stephanie K. Weese, 27, of Springfield, and Krystal G. Weese, 22, address unknown, as well as Michael A. Trujillo, 29, of Flemington, Jason W. Condra, 25, Toreiko S. Miller, 35, Joshua L. Kelley, 30, Angela M. Gentry, 41, and Jorge C. Ramirez, 26, all of Springfield, Richard A. Lester, 30, of Republic, Mo., Aaron M. Garger, 45, of Buffalo, Mo., Charles M. Doyle, 48, incarcerated in federal prison, and Rebecca P. Tudor, 52, of Phoneix, Ariz.

Juan Avila, also known as “Whopper,” 31, of Litchfield, Ariz., was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to his role in the methamphetamine conspiracy. Edward Ortiz, also known as “Juante,” 22, of Youngstown, Ariz., was sentenced to 12 years and six months in federal prison without parole after pleading guilty to his role in the! methamphetamine conspiracy.

Under federal statutes, Lori Weese is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $4.5 million. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney David P. Rush. It was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Greene County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Polk County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, COMET (the Combined Ozarks Multi-jurisdictional Enforcement Team), the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Bolivar, Mo., Police Department and the Arizona Department of Pub lic Safety.

Sixteen Year-Old Certified As An Adult, Charged With Three Counts Of First Degree Murder:

Benjamin Stidham

A sixteen year-old boy has been certified as an adult and has been charged with three counts of first-degree murders for the deaths of Jeff and Glenda Smith and Zack Porter.

Prosecutors in La Clede County allege that Benjamin James Stidham, Springfield, accompanied Josh Reyes, Steven Pyykola and Jackie Wong to La Clede County on the night of October 10 when the Smith's and Porter were killed by a handgun.

Detectives believe that jealousy and robbery were the motives of the Smith's and Porter's deaths. Miranda Smith is the former girlfriend of Joshua Antonio Reyes and has two children with him. Smith started dating Porter just a few weeks before the murders.

Zachary Porter


A source close to the investigation says that Stidham allegedly told a friend BEFORE the murders that he was going to be paid $4,000 for his part in the crime, and that he posted on his myspace page that "damn, it feels good to be a monster."

KOLR 10 reporter Jennifer Denman was in the court room today and reports that Stidham attended Hillcrest High School and has a prior juvy record for assault.


Pyykola allegedly told investigators that Reyes told him he was in legal trouble and, "he would have to kill the following witnesses against him: Jim and Joy English, Jeff and Glenda Smith, Miranda Smith and Zachary Porter," according to the probable cause statement.

Wong told investigators that in the days leading up to the shootings, Reyes had made statements to him that he wanted to kill Miranda Smith over custody issues and because, "she was cheating on him by dating another man."

According to Wong when Reyes, Pyykola and Stidham got out of the truck at the Smith's Phillipsburg home, "Reyes was carrying a gun, Pyykola was carrying a Taser (which they bought at Majestic,) and Benjamin Stidham was carrying another gun." When the alleged murderers got to Miranda Smith's apartment in Lebanon Wong told investigators that he and Stidham stayed in his dads truck while Reyes and Pyykola went to the apartment, "because he had business to take care of with Zachary Porter for sleeping with Miranda."

Sheriff Richard Wrinkle says that jealousy sparked the deadly rampage "she took everything he loved away from him, so he was going to take everything she loved away from her."

Miranda Smith has asked the court for orders of protection from Reyes on at least three separate occasions, the most recent being filed on September 17th. However, eleven days later she asked the court to lift the order, which was granted.

Reyes and Wong were bound over and will stand for trial earlier this month....Pykkola's preliminary hearing is set for Friday.

A formal arraignment date for Stidham has been set for the end of January.

UPDATE 12-11-09:

Pyykola was bound over for trial today.

Prosecutors File Capital Murder Charges Against Chastain:

Prosecutors in Arkansas will seek the death penalty against a man for the shotgun slaying of his girlfriend last May.

Boone County chief assistant prosecutor Wes Bradford says that his office "amended and upgraded charges" against Ernest Doyle Chastain Jr., to capital murder.

Prosecutors allege that Chastain shot his girlfriend Susie Powers once in the chest during a fight at Powers' Omaha, AR, home on May 19, 2009, after she threw a glass of whiskey in his face during a fight. Investigators say that Chastain told his mother that Powers was suffering and cussing him so he shot her two more times in the head and then covered her body with an Indian blanket.

After the shooting, investigators say that Chastain drove to his mother Barbara Burke's home in Hollister where he dropped off some of Susie Powers' pets. According to court documents Chastain is alleged to have told his mother, "Momma, I really killed her."

Chastain was on the run from the law for two days following Powers' murder. Cops caught up with Chastain and a woman he picked up in Taney County at a motel in Galena after authorities received a tip that he was hiding out at the Shoals Motel.

Chastain's trial is scheduled to begin on July 12, 2010.

One Dead, Another Critically Injured In Cliff Accident In Baxter Springs, Arkansas:

At approximately 5:40 AM this morning, the Baxter County, Arkansas Sheriff's Office was notified of a 911 call reporting that two people were missing and had possibly fallen off the cliffs near the Misty Rivers Subdivision along the White River in the Norfork area.

Sheriff's Deputies and first responders from the Norfork Fire Department responded to the scene and located the two people. One of them, a woman, was injured and transported to Baxter Regional Medical Center. The second person, a male, was deceased. His body is located up a steep cliff along the railroad tracks.

The rugged location and frigid weather is making it difficult for first responders to get to the man body.

Additional details, including the names of the deceased and injured, will be released later in the day.

UPDATE 9:50 a.m.:

The man's body has been recovered by first responders.

UPDATE 12:03 P.M.:

Charles Edward Ragland, age 37 of Mountain Home, was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was recovered by off the side of a steep bluff approximately 60 ft from the railroad tracks, just North of the Sheid Bridge on Hwy 341, near Norfork, Arkansas. The Norfork Fire Department used repelling and rescue equipment to assist in recovering the body.

Elizabeth Suzanne Hubbard, age 40 was taken by ambulance to Baxter Regional Hospital. Late this morning she was being transferred to St. Johns Hospital in Springfield, Missouri in critical condition.

The body of Charles Edward Ragland is being sent to the Medical Examiner's Office in Little Rock to determine the manner and cause of death.

The U.S. National Park Service has been called in to assist and will be conducting fall analysis in the next few days with the ongoing investigation..

Arkansas Woman Charged With First-Degree Murder In Boyfriends Shooting:

A woman from Piercetown, Arkansas has been charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting her boyfriend to death.

Authorities responded to a "frantic phone call" about 11 a.m. Monday (12-07-09) directing them to the home of Kerrie Breedlove, 35, and 39 year-old Shannon Price. The caller told the dispatcher that Breedlove had shot her boyfriend.

According to a press release from Newton County Sheriff Keith Slape, when officers arrived a first responder was performing CPR on Price, who was shot in the upper torso and pronounced dead at the scene. “An argument escalated at the home resulting in the shooting,” Slape said.

Breedlove was taken into custody and is being held without bond in the Boone County jail for Newton County authorities.

Newton County prosecutor Ron Kinkaid says that Breedlove is expected to make her first court appearance on Friday.