Christiansen Given Probation For His Role In Stephen Rash's Murder:

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Troy Christiansen

Another one of the six suspects who took part in a 2008 murder conspiracy found out his fate today (10-28-11) in a Greene County courtroom.

Troy Christiansen, who turned state's evidence against his former girlfriend's mother, her lover and two other men who all conspired to kill Stephen E. Rash at his Chicago Street home on December 5, 2008, was sentenced to twelve years in prison- but was placed on probation, according to Rhonda Ogden, Office manager at the Greene County Prosecutors Office.

First-degree murder charges were dropped against Theresa Rash's daughter, Alexandrea McNeeley and Christiansen, and replaced with conspiracy to commit murder charges in exchange for their cooperation against their co-defendants.

Alexandrea McNeeley

According to court records, the plot to kill Rash was hatched about a week before his murder by Theresa Rash, who wanted her husband killed because he allegedly verbally abused her and because she wanted to be with her lover, Jeff Bloom.

Prosecutors say Theresa Rash hatched the plan to kill her husband

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Theresa Rash's boyfriend and alleged co-conspirator Jeff Bloom

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Rash was found dead on his kitchen floor...he had been bludgeoned with a pipe and his throat had been slashed.

Stephen Rash was murdered in his home

In August Theresa Rash entered an Alford plea to amended charges of second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Bloom pleaded guilty to amended charges of second-degree murder.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 3rd and McNeeley will learn her fate in December.

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William Reed was sentenced to life in prison

Earlier this year two men who actually carried out the plot, William Reed and Rusty Amoss, were sentneced to life in prison for Rash's murder.

Rusty Amoss will spend the rest of his life behind bars

Vance Pleads Guilty To Her Role In 2010 Texas County Murder:

Mistie Dawn Vanc (mug shot TXCSO)

A woman from Texas County will spend at least nineteen years behind bars for her role in the April 2010 death of a man from Willow Springs.

Mistie Dawn Vance was originally charged with first-degree murder but pleaded guilty today (10-27-11) to charges of voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action.

Texas County Prosecutor Mike Anderson says Vance and and James Skelton hid in 56 year-old Monty Dale Beltz's shed and ambushed the man when he returned home. Skelton told investigators that the two went to Beltz's home to retrieve some of Vance's belongings and steal prescription medication from the man.

Skelton says as Vance was attempting to pry open the front door of Beltz's home, he [Beltz] opened the door and the two went inside and argued for about an hour. When Vance exited the trailer she was  holding a 12 gauge shotgun. Skelton says Beltz followed Vance outside and ordered her off of his property. Vance began walking backward with the gun in her hands telling Beltz "to not make her do it," when she shot Beltz in the abdomen.

Vance then got in the wounded man's pickup and backed up to where he lay - got out reloaded the gun and was attempting to shoot Beltz again before his brother disarmed her and called 9-1-1.

Vance fled the scene and was apprehended in an abandoned farmhouse not far from the shooting.

The woman was also ordered to serve five years in prison for armed criminal action to be served consecutive to the fifteen year manslaughter term.

Skelton was not charged in Beltz's death.
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10TE-CR00195-01 - ST V MISTIE D VANCE

Attorney General Secures Conviction Of Kirbyville Woman:

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Edna "Kay" Jackson (mug shot TCSO)

A jury in Greene County has convicted a Kirbyville woman of defrauding customers.


Edna "Kay" Jackson, the former owner of Dogwood Homes, was convicted of seven counts of defrauding consumers and will be sentenced on January 13th, according to a news release from Attorney General Chris Koster.

In January 2010, Jackson and her son, Michael Jackson, were ordered in a civil case to pay $1.28 million to more than 30 people who lost money in the scheme.  At least one of those consumers has passed away without receiving compensation.

In the scheme, Kay Jackson would collect the money from the customers, and either fail to deliver the homes or clear titles to the bank or the customers. 


"Kay Jackson defrauded people of tens of thousands of their hard-earned dollars," Koster said.. "This office is committed to enforcing consumer-protection laws and arduosly prosecuted this case.  I'm pleased with the result and commend the jury on the verdict."

Jackson could receive 4 years in prison on each count and a fine of up to $5,000 per count when she is sentenced on January 13, 2012.

Tragic Accident Claims Life Of McDonald County Toddler:

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A three year-old little girl was killed in a tragic accidental shooting at her home near Stella on Saturday (10-22-10.)

Authorities in McDonald County say Shawna Coberley had laid little Maycen Abigale Coberley down for a nap then heard a gunshot.

Evidence at the scene shows the little girl had been "finger painting" with lotion on the walls of her mother's room and discovered a holstered loaded handgun on a nightstand and shot herself once in the chest.

Southwest Missouri Forensics will conduct an autopsy on the little girl in Springfield, according to McDonald County Coroney Tracy Dowd.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Clark Funeral Home in Granby.

Retired Springfield Cop Now Facing Federal Charges:

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Jack Van Matre (mug shot GCSO)

A former Springfield police officer already facing criminal charges in Greene County is back behind bars, this time on federal charges.

Prosecutors in Greene County charged Jack Van Matre two weeks ago with invasion of privacy for allegedly using hidden cameras to spy on a 14 year-old girl who was living in his home.  He was arrested at his wedding reception and quickly posted $20,000 bond and was released.

According to federal court records, Van Matre was charged with sexual exploitation of a child on Thursday (10-20).  The complaint also says investigators are looking at prior allegations of sexual assault against three minor children.


According to search warrant returns in the state case, authorities returned to Van Matre's to look for additional hidden cameras, specifically one behind a mirror. According to those records, authorities discovered the alleged existence of the additional camera while watching Van Matre install it on video evidence already seized as evidence.

The accompanying affidavit accuses Van Matre of producing child pornography.

After Van Matre retired from the police force in 2006, he opened a boudoir photography business in downtown called, "Behind The Red Door," and now has a website as a wedding photographer.

According to a jailer, Van Matre, who is being is being held away from other prisoner's for his safety, is being held without bond in the Greene County jail for the FBI.   

UPDATE 11-02-12:

Van Matre was sentenced to 19 years and seven months in federal prison.  Federal proseuctors say that during the course of their investigation the discovered that Van Matre "had been the subject of two separate investigations for sexually assaulting three prepubescent foster children over the course of six years."

Springfied Man Sentenced To Life In Prison For 2009 Sex Assault Of Ten Year-Old Boy:

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Michael Wayne Crites will have to serve 38.5 years in prison before he is eligible for parole

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A Springfield man has been sentenced to life in prison for kidnapping and sodomizing a ten year-old boy two years ago.

A judge found Michael Wayne Crites, 28, guilty in August of Kidnapping, Forcible Sodomy, and Enticement of a Child.

         

Prosecutors say the victim was playing with friends near Jordan Creek on July 15, 2009, when Crites forced the boy to go with him to a wooded area near Hillcrest and Meadowmere, where he sexually assaulted the young boy.

 

Jordan Creek is a popular swimming spot for kids and some witnesses told investigators they had seen Crites lurking there in the past

 

Today Judge Calvin Holden sentenced Crites to life in prison (which is 30 years in the state of Missouri) on the forcible sodomy of a child less than 12 years old conviction and 10 years in prison on the kidnapping conviction.  Those sentences are to be served consecutively (one after the other.)  Crites was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for enticement of a child.  That sentence will be served concurrent (at the same time) to the kidnapping sentence.

    

    

Crites will have to serve a little over 38 years in prison before he is eligible for parole.

Former Healthtracks Trainer Sentenced To 15 Years For Taping Naked Underage Girls:

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Scott Johnson was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison (mug shot GCSO)

A former trainer at Healthtracks, a facility operated by St. John's, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for secretly taping naked underage girls at the facility.


Scott Johnson, 32, of Springfield was found guilty of eight counts of sexual exploitation of a minor last December.

In October 2008, a staff member at Healthtracks noticed a video camera on Johnson’s desk. The video tape loaded in the camera contained videos of two females, that were taped during a two year period between January of 2006 and December of 2007, disrobing and weighing themselves.

Johnson was immediately suspended and, eventually terminated from his employment at Healthtracks. Springfield police officers later found additional video cassettes, which Johnson had attempted to destroy, in his trash can at his residence.

McDonald County Sheriff's Deputy Wounded in Shootout, Suspect Dead:

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McDonald County Deputy Kenen Martinez

A sheriff's deputy in McDonald County is recovering from a gunshot wound to the leg after being shot while off duty yesterday (10-19-10.)

Sheriff Robert Evenson say deputy Kenen Martinez, 24, radioed in a domestic disturbance call between his neighbors, who live in an apartment below him, about noon.

When Martinez went to Alvis Davis', 28, apartment the man slammed the door in his face and his girlfriend yelled out, "He's got a gun," according to Evenson.  "I believe that warning saved my deputy's life."

According to Evenson, Martinez had responded to previous disturbances at the Sawmill Terrace apartment complex involving Davis, and Davis knew his neighbor was a deputy.

Alvis Ray Davis (mug shot McCO)

"He came out shooting and Kenen returned fire," said Evenson.  Martinez was hit in the upper thigh near the femoral artery.  Davis fled the scene in a pickup truck and deputies from McDonald County and Newton County began searching for him. Around 1 p.m., Newton County deputies spotted Davis' vehicle near State Highway 43 and Route DD  where they had set up a roadblock and a chase ensued north on Highway 43.

Before Davis reached the roadblock his truck swerved off the road and crashed. When deputies approached the vehicle they discovered Davis dead from an apparent self inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

"It was very emotional for our staff to listen to radio traffic as to what was going on because Kenen's mother works her as a detective (Lorie Howard) and my office manager.  Once we found out where Kenen was going I drove Lorie to the hospital.  We're all thankful that Kenen's going to be okay - he was released from the hospital yesterday evening and I gave Lorie the day off to spend with her son." said Evenson.

~UPDATED~Authorities In Joplin Investigating Suspicious Death:

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Authorities in Joplin are calling the shooting death of a woman suspicious.

Corporal Chuck Niess says officers were called to 1423 S. Sergeant around 12:45 a.m. Thursday ( 10-20-11.)  When officers arrived they found Karen Norris, 48, in her bedroom with a gunshot wound to the head.  Norris was transported to Freeman hospital, where she later died.

"The initial call was received as an attempted suicide and the investigations bureau responded.  At this point investigators are looking into all possibilities as to what happened.  There has been no determination as to whether this is a suicide or a homicide.  Investigators are working with the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Jasper County Coroners Office to follow up on several leads," said Lt. Darren Gallup.

Noriss's boyfriend, Wayne Jeffrey Fick, 47, who was at the residence at the time of the shooting, was taken into custody on an unrelated federal weapons charges.

"It is important that we look at all the pieces of the investigation before we make a determination as to what happened.  Th investigation will continue until we are certain that all evidence is obtained and we have a clear picture as to what occurred," said Gallup.

Baxter County Man Busted Twice In One Night For DWI:

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Brian E. Sandy was busted twice in one night for alleged DWI (mug shot BXCSO)

A man from Cotter, Arkansas was arrested twice overnight, accused of drunk driving.

Authorities in Baxter County Sheriff say Brian E. Sandy, 30, was booked into the county jail about 2:15 a.m. Thursday (10-19-11.) Stacy was released about 3:00 a.m. after posting $2,010 bond and was released to the custody of Heath D. Christian, who signed a form taking responsibility for Sandy that stated he would not let Sandy drive.

About 24 minutes after bonding out of jail, the Gassville officer who originally arrested Sandy busted him again after he witnessed him getting behind the wheel of a vehicle and drive off.  

Sandy was again booked into the Baxter County jail with an alleged blood alcohol content of -13% and released after posting $3,115 bond.

He's due in court November 3rd on the county charges and November 14th for Gassville charges.

Christian was cited for Permitting an Unauthorized Person to Drive.

Branson Police Officer Busts Former Illinois Cop Accused Of Stealing From Fallen Officer Charity:

 

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Former Illinois cop Scott Webb was apprehended in Branson (mug shot TCSO)

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A police officer in Branson busted a former Woodridge, Illinois cop who is accused of stealing more than $30,000 from a police charity.

Initial published reports were that Scott Webb was apprehended during a routine traffic stop on Tuesday (10-18-11,) however, Chief Kent Crutcher says "a local acquaintance of Webb's" called and tipped authorities to his whereabouts.  Webb was taken into custody without incident at a condo after Officer Lance Gott ran Webb's license and confirmed he had an active warrant for his arrest for stealing.

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When authorities arrested him in Branson, he was living in an apartment with two other people and going by the name Jeff Waits. He had $4,500 in cash, three money orders for $500 each, and a loaded 9 mm pistol, according to Illinois State Assistand Attorney Helen Kapas.

“Webb had made statements that he would shoot himself if the police came for him,” Kapas said.
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Webb, a 10-year-veteran of the Woodridge department, fled the Chicago area shortly before he was indicted in late May for allegedly stealing more than $30,000 that was raised during two events that support families of fallen officers.

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The missing money was intended for the Illinois chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors, a nonprofit that helps send families of fallen officers on trips to Washington, D.C., where their loved ones are honored.

Former ESPN Writer and NFL Analyst In Taney County Jail On Charges Of Promoting Child Pornography:

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Former ESPN writer and NFL analyst Jeremy Green is in the Taney County jail on charges of promoting child pornography

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A former sports writer and NFL analyst for ESPN is in the Taney County jail on multiple charges of promoting child pornography.

Taney County prosecutor Jeff Merrell says Jeremy Dennis Green, 39, of Bristol, Connecticut was chatting with an undercover Taney County deputy in June and July of 2010 who was posing as the mother of underage kids when Green allegedly shared 17 photos and 3 videos showing an adult male and toddler in explicit situations.

According to court records, Green stated during the chat that he would pay for children to visit him in Connecticut for the purpose of sex.   When detectives in Connecticut examined the contents of one of the flash drives they found more than 100 pornographic images. A sampling of those images showed girls between the ages of 2 and 10, according to the arrest warrant.

According to published reports in Connecticut Green pleaded guilty in February of this year to one count of possession of child pornography.

Green is the son of former NFL coach Dennis Green and worked for the Cleveland Browns before joining ESPN.

Green, who was booked into the  Taney County jail on October 7th, is being held on $100,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 14th.

US Marshals Apprehend Man Wanted On Numerous Sex Crimes Involving Children:

Patrick Noel (mug shot CCSO)

US Marshals captured a man wanted on multiple counts of forcible rape, statutory rape and forcible sodomy involving the minor children of friends.

Prosecutors in Christian County charged Patrick Noel, 27, of Nixa with thirteen sex related charges involving two girls.

The probable cause statement says Noel and his wife had been living with the parents of the children from April to July of this year and that the majority of the alleged crimes took place in the home. 

The 15 year-old girl told her father that Noel allegedly forced her to have sex with him numerous times at various locations in the house and in the Battlefield Mall parking lot.  The 13 year-old victim told investigators that Noel "would pin her down and if she told him no or tried to get away he would use his weight to hold her down."

According to court records, the younger girl says Noel "told her having sex with him made her his wife and there was no going back."
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"What the deputy investigating this told me once he had intercourse with the girls he basically told them-- they're polygamists-- he told them 'now you're my wives and there's nothing you can do about it,'" Sheriff Joey Kyle explains.

Kyle says he believes the parents of the girls share the same religious beliefs,  which the investigating officer describes as a mix between Christianity and Judaism, as Noel and the father was allegedly upset because Noel did not ask his permission before having sex with his daughters.
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The search for Noel led marshals to Hickory and Camden Counties. He was apprehended in the Lake Of The Ozarks State Park and brought back to Ozark where he's being held on a quarter million dollars bond.
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UPDATE 01-29-12:

Noel was bound over trial in November.

Bell Found Guilty Of 2006 Assault Of Girlfriend's Baby Who Was Left Brain Damaged:

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Jamie Paul Bell (mug shot PCSO)

A man from Mountain Grove who was charged with assaulting his girlfriend's two year-old son in January of 2006 has been found guilty of first-degree assault with deadly force.

Texas County prosecutor Mike Anderson says when Jamie Paul Bell, 34, shook Quentin Ferarra
 it caused severe brain damage that has left him in a persistent vegetative state.  Bell told authorities the little boy, who had bruises that covered his entire body, fell from a chair and bumped his head on a table.

The jury has recommended a life sentence, which is 30 years in the state of Missouri, for Bell who is scheduled to be sentenced on January 10, 2012.

The case was moved from Texas County to Phelps County on a change of venue.

Not Remotely Crime Related - School From Nixa To Be Recognized At The White House:

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Dr. Kevin Kopp

A school from the Ozarks will be recognized in a presentation at the White House on Monday October 17th.

Dr. Kevin Kopp, principal of High Pointe Elementary, and Mrs. Debby Lawson, assistant superintendent of elementary education, will represent the school at a reception to be held by First Lady Michelle Obama on the South Lawn of the White House.

Dr. Kopp says the school applied to the Healthier US School Challenge near the end of the last school year and was recently notified that they were one of the winners. “We’re really excited that our efforts to make children healthy was recognized.”

Debby Lawson

Kopp says one thing students were excited about last year was the fear factor fruit or vegetable of the month. “It encouraged a lot of kids to try things they would normally turn their noses up at. This year we’ve implemented a Garden Bar, which is basically a salad bar. For some of our kids it’s the only time of the day that they are able to have fruits and veggies.”

Food service is vital to helping with the choices kids get to make, according to Kopp. “Last week I saw sweet potato tater tots on the food line….that was pretty cool. You can serve healthy things all you want – the key is getting them to want to eat it.”

As the children in his school get older and move on Kopp hopes they remember that they have choices in their health and wellness, “Once a day right now may not have a profound impact on them, but hopefully as they get older they’ll remember they have choices for living a healthy life.”

Former Springfield Cop Accused Of Spying On Teen With Hidden Camera's In Bedroom and Bathroom: W/ Link To PC

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Jack Van Matre (facebook photo)

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A retired Springfield police officer, who was arrested at his own wedding reception last weekend, has found himself on the wrong side of the law.

Greene County prosecutors have charged Jack B. Van Matre, 54, with first-degree felony violation of privacy. Van Matre retired as a Springfield patrol officer in November 2006.

Police transported Van Matre's from the wedding reception to his home at 4002 West Page on October 7th after a 14 year-old girl living in the home found a video camera in a bathroom and another in a bedroom.  The girl took a picture of the camera's with her cell phone and contacted her biological father, who then called authorities, according to the probable cause statement.
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Court records say that police officers found two cameras that were connected wirelessly to Van Matre's laptop computer that were hidden behind fake air vents.
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After Van Matre consented to the search of his home and gave officers the password to his computer, officers watched part of one video that showed a partially naked teen in the bathroom. According to court documents, when the teen left, Van Matre entered the bathroom "and looked directly at the camera and smiled before walking out."

Van Matre told police he "found the teen attractive and viewed her as an adult female and was attracted to her as an adult," according to court records. He also admitted the videos amounted to "voyeurism" and child pornography.
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As he was read his rights his demeanor changed according to the probable cause statement, "His eyes glassed over, he lowered his head and it appeared as though the words were painful for him to hear and had a drastic impact on his emotional state of mind."  At one point during the search of his home Van Matre told Officer Dan Rankey, "Just put a bullet in my head.  I know I wanted to when I worked calls like this."
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Van Matre's wife told authorities she feared for her husband's well being because, "He said he would harm himself before being exposed publicly in this matter."

The former cop told investigators that he installed the camera's in August or September of 2011.  When asked why he had installed them Van Matre replied, "I'd say mental illness, wouldn't you."

After Van Matre retired from the police force, he opened a budoir photography business in downtown called, "Behind The Red Door," and now has a website as a wedding photographer.  Authorities won't say specifically if they are looking into anything to do with Van Matre's business, "We have a lengthy investigation in front of us," said public information officer Cpl. Matt Brown.

Van Matre was booked into the Greene County jail where he was later released after posting $20,000 bond. Part of the condition of the bond were that he surrender all of his weapons.  He was also ordered not to have any contact with anyone under the age of 17 and have no access to the Internet.

Typically crimes related to child pornography are usually handled in federal court - as of Wednesday afternoon no federal charges had been filed against Van Matre.
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UPDATE 06-01-12:

Jack Van Matre (mug shot GCSO)



A retired Springfield police will spend at least 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to two charges of sexually exploiting a minor.


Jack Van Matre, 55, of Springfield, was originally charged in state court after authorities found hidden video cameras behind a mirror and in fake duct work in the bedroom and bathroom of a 14 year-old girl living in Van Matre's home at 4002 West Page.


By pleading guilty, Van Matre, who retired from the SPD in 2006, admitted that he used the girl to produce child pornography on two separate occasions between Aug. 1, and Oct. 7, 2011.

According to court documents, the 14-year-old discovered hidden video cameras and alerted her father, who then called police.

Investigators also found sexually explicit video's of the girl on Van Matre’s computer, which was connected wirelessly to the hidden camera's.


According to court documents, Van Matre told police that two cameras discovered by the girl were wirelessly connected to a laptop in his bedroom, and gave authorities the necessary passwords to access the files.

The former cop told investigators that he installed the camera's in August or September of 2011. When asked why he had installed them Van Matre replied, "I'd say mental illness, wouldn't you."

According to federal court documents, Van Matre was accused of sexual misconduct with children in 1999 and 2000 while he was still a cop. However, no charges were ever brought against him at that time.

After Van Matre, who was arrested at his wedding reception, retired from the police force he opened "Behind The Red Door,"a boudoir photography business in downtown Springfield and also worked as a wedding photographer.


Under federal statutes, Van Matre is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison without parole, up to 60 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $500,000.
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UPDATE 11-01-12:

Van Matre was sentenced to 19 years and seven months without parole. According to federal prosecutors, during the course of the investigation, officers learned that Van Matre had been the subject of two separate investigations for sexually assaulting three prepubescent foster children over the course of six years.

Former Nursing School Employee Pleads Guilty To Embezzling From College:

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 2008St. John's employee newsletter

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A woman from Republic pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday (10-11-11) for embezzling more than $717,000 from St. John’s Mercy Health Care Systems and the College of Nursing.

The investigation into Amy Phillips, 39, who waived her right to a grand jury before she pleaded guilty to charges of theft of program funds and tax evasion, began in 2009.  Shortly after Springfield police investigator's confirmed that they were looking at Phillips into the alleged misappropriation of funds from the nursing school, Phillips, who was treasurer of the PTO, was arrested by police in Republic for suspicion of stealing from the organization.

Phillips was employed as an administrative assistant from Jan. 15, 2001, to Feb. 26, 2009, for the College of Nursing, a division of St. John’s Mercy Health Care Systems, which was run jointly with Southwest Baptist University. In that position, she was responsible for the upkeep of the facilities, College of Nursing staff payroll, budgetary issues and general administrative duties for the dean and program director of the College of Nursing.

Phillips admitted that she used two methods of embezzlement to steal substantial sums of money from St. John’s and the College of Nursing.

• Between 2004 and 2007, Phillips intercepted checks intended for St. John’s and the College of Nursing, and deposited them into her personal bank account. She stole nearly $61,000 under this scheme, until her bank informed her, in 2007, that she would have to be listed as the payee for any checks deposited into her account.

• From 2007 to 2009, Phillips used the Student Nurses Association bank account at the St. John’s Employees’ Credit Union, which was a private savings account owned and funded by the students of the College of Nursing. Phillips deposited checks made payable to St. John’s and the College of Nursing into the Student Nurses Association bank account, and on the same day withdrew the funds, which she used for her personal benefit. Phillips stole more than $657,000 under this scheme, for a total theft of $717,999.

Phillips also pleaded guilty to tax evasion. Phillips admitted she did not claim the embezzled funds as taxable income on her federal tax returns from 2004 through 2008. Phillips pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion regarding her federal income tax for 2008.

Although Phillips only claimed $26,759 in taxable income, according to the plea agreement, she actually had approximately $210,064 in income as a result of her embezzlement. Over the course of five years, the plea agreement states, Phillips should have paid an additional $115,117 in income taxes on the unreported theft income.

By pleading guilty, Phillips also agreed to pay $717,999 in restitution to St. John’s and $115,117 plus interest to the IRS. St. John’s reimbursed Southwest Baptist University for all funds that Phillips embezzled from university activities and functions.

Under federal statutes, Phillips is subject to a sentence of up to 15 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $500,000 and an order of restitution. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

The IRS, the U.S. Secret Service and the Springfield Police Department investigated this case.

No charges were filed against Phillips in connection to the alleged theft of funds from the Republic PTO.
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UPDATE 02-17-12:

Phillips was sentenced to 2 and-a-half years in federal prison without parole and ordered to pay the school $717,999 and pay the IRS $115,117 plus interest for tax evasion.

Branson Woman Wins Facebook Charity Contest, Prize Money To Help Joplin Tornado Victims:

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A woman from Branson will be paying it forward for victims of the Joplin tornado after winning $100,000 in a charity contest sponsored by Oscar Mayer.

Several weeks ago Crystal Lee Wolfe was announced as a finalist in a facebook contest that challenged entrants to do as many unique good deeds as possible within a set time period.

Wolfe completed 945 of them, which put her among the top five finalists and votes from people on the social networking site put her over the top.

Wolfe, who co-founded Homes of Hope, is trying to raise $2.1 million to build 20 energy-efficient, low-carbon-footprint homes.  Groundbreaking for the first two homes the organization hopes to build is planned for early next year.

 For more information on Homes of Hope, visit .homesofhopejoplin.org

Officer Involved Shooting Near Republic Leaves One Woman Dead:

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Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott

Authorities from multiple agencies are investigating an officer involved shooting tonight (10-4-11) that has left one person dead.

Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott says 9-1-1 dispatcher's received multiple calls about 8:45 about an intoxicated driver on James River Freeway near Republic.  Arnott says when the description of a bluish-green mini-van was involved the Highway Patrol advised that the vehicle could belong to someone who was suicidal and possibly armed.
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Authorities at scene of officer involved shooting surround Tammy Robinette's vehicle (courtesy Springfield News Leader)

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Arnott says Deputy Matthew Keatts initiated a traffic stop at MM and Hwy 60 and when he reached inside to shut off the ignition of forty six year-old Tammy L. Robinette of Mountain Grove (AKA Tammy L. Campbell) he heard the click of a gun.  The officer then fired his service revolver, killing the woman.
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Sgt. Marty Elmore, of Troop G in Willow Springs, said an “acquaintance” of Robinette called 9-1-1 at 8:34 p.m. and reported Robinette was despondent and on her way to Joplin.
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The officer's car was equipped with a dash camera and authorities are reviewing the tape.

Keatts has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard in an officer involved shooting.

~UPDATED~Authorities In Ozark Investigating Apparent Homicide, Name Of Victim Released:

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Ozark Police Chief Lyle Hodges



Authorities in Ozark are investigating the death of a man who was found shot to death on a parking lot of an apartment complex in the 1300 block of West Hall street.

Crime scene tape surrounds the parking lot where a man was found shot to death (courtesy KTTS)

Police chief Lyle Hodges says Michael G. Tindall, 50, of Ozark, died from a single gunshot wound to the head.  "We have surveillance tape from several businesses and want to talk to a man that appears in the tape that we believe has information that could help us."

Hodges says a man getting in his vehicle found the body between two cars between 11 a.m. and noon today (10-02-11).  The complex where the body was found is Riverside Townhomes but, "Several complexes use that parking lot and we haven't been able to find anyone who heard or saw anything at this point," said Hodges.

An autopsy, that will determine if it was a self-inflicted wound or homicide, is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on Monday (10-03-11.)

For The Ultimate In Home Security:

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I write about crime for a living and I'm always surprised when I read the police blotter and it mentions that a home or business was burglarized because the owner failed to arm the alarm system.  It happens more often than most people realize.  Statistics say 30 to 40 percent of burglars tend to avoid homes with burglar alarm systems and businesses without alarm systems are 4.5 times more likely to be burglarized than the ones with an electronic security system.
 
The vast majority of home invasion's occur between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. when most people are at work.  It is estimated that every 12 seconds someone breaks into a vulnerable home by going right through the front door.
 
Most home security systems are more than burglar alarms. With the colder months upon us, many elderly "snowbirds" have begun to make winter travel plans to head to warmer weather states.  In addition to having neighbors and family members making periodic checkups on their homes while they're away, those folks should look into an alarm system that alerts firefighters because their furnaces have probably been left on in their homes while they plan to be away.
 
And for those who forget to arm their system's before they leave there are several apps available via "smart" cell phones that make it simple.