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Missourinet

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Missouri native tells of Capitol attack, four hours of “battle,” burns not healed

February 24, 2021 By Ashley Byrd

Captain Carneysha Mendoza (pool photo)

A Missouri native described to U.S. Senators her firsthand view of the police struggle with attackers at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Festus native, Captain Carneysha Mendoza, has served on the US Capitol Police for about 19 years. The Army veteran recognized some of the weapons used by the terrorists — and used on her.

She described smelling military-grade CS gas used on police and having burns on her face that have not yet healed:

https://cdn.missourinet.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/mo7MendozaBurns.mp3

Mendoza is a field commander in the special operations division including response to significant security incidents. She testified about the struggle of police while she assumed command and they waited for relief:

https://cdn.missourinet.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/mo7MendozaRelief.mp3

While the Metropolitan Police force sent back-ups, additional relief did not come for hours. Her former bosses testified that they were not prepared for battle, just protests.

Mendoza said, “I am proud of the officers I worked with on January 6. They fought extremely hard. I know that some said the battle lasted three hours, but according to my Fitbit, I was in the exercise zone for four hours and nine minutes.”

Blunt and Klobuchar lead the Senate Rules Committee

Senator Roy Blunt is the ranking member on the Senate panel investigating the police response to January 6. In his opening statement, Blunt emphasized the scope of the trauma:

“I offer my deepest thanks to the officers of the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department, and their families who may have been watching this attack on the Capitol in real time. Unfortunately, the failures of that day were of the most serious kind: the death of USCP Officer Brian Sicknick. The subsequent suicides of USCP Officer Howard Liebengood and MPD Officer Jeffrey Smith were just the first and most tragic results from the psychological trauma that untold numbers of people experienced.”

The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs and Senate Rules committees are looking into failures of police and preparedness – while highlighting the heroism of officers who endured hand-to-hand combat to protect members of Congress.

Former US Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, Former House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving, Former Senate Sergeant at Arms Michael Stenger and Acting U..S Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee answered questions about intelligence gathering and dissemination, and preparation that Blunt said “led ultimately to the failure of leadership the Capitol experienced nearly seven weeks ago.”

Sund, in his opening statement, said the attackers were prepared for war:

“I have been in policing for almost 30 years, and in that time I have been involved in a number of critical incidents, and responded to a number of horrific scenes. The events on January 6, 2021, constituted the worst attack on law enforcement that I have seen in my entire career. This was an attack that we are learning was pre-planned, and involved participants from a number of states who came well equipped, coordinated, and prepared to carry out a violent insurrection at the United States Capitol.”

The leaders in charge of Capitol security pointed fingers at each other at times in the hearing, but all agree that intelligence underestimated the threat — and the planning — that led to the attack.

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Captain Carneysha Mendoza, Senate Rules Committee, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, US Capitol Police, US Capitol riot

Missouri prison system could move officer training from classroom to real-world setting

February 22, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

In 2019, Gov. Mike Parson closed a prison in northwest Missouri’s Cameron. Most staff and inmates transferred to the other prison in town – Western Missouri Correctional Center. Now, Parson wants to reopen the Crossroads Correctional Center and turn it into a training academy for correctional officers.

Gov. Mike Parson

During a House Budget Committee hearing, Trevor Foley with the state Department of Corrections, says the officers would have a better sense of the surroundings they would be in.

“Currently, all of our institutional staff receive their training in a classroom setting,” says Foley. “We believe that we can improve the quality of our training by training them in an environment that looks like the one they’re going to be working in. You’d be able to learn how to do a cell search or a cell extraction from an actual cell.”

Joplin Republican Representative Lane Roberts, a former Missouri Department of Public Safety Director, says he wholeheartedly endorses the plan.

“The idea is to give the officers basically a real setting experience, so that when they do find themselves faced with this, they will know not only what to do but have some sense of the surroundings they’ll be operating in. For whatever it’s worth, I have to tell you I think this is an excellent use of any of our surplus,” says Roberts.

The proposal is part of the governor’s $34.1 billion budget proposal for the fiscal year beginning in July.

Foley thinks the return on investment would be net positive within five years.

“A significant portion of the expenses of our training operations are lodging for staff that have to go to one of our three regional centers. We believe that by converting one of the housing units at the facility to residential space, the trainings will be able to stay on site and that will significantly reduce our lodging costs,” says Foley.

The Missouri prison system’s construction crew would make the renovations.

The governor’s budget proposal also includes a 2% pay increase for state workers beginning next January.

“Historically, retention has been a problem. That is why the department had our retention pay plan two years. What we have really seen in the last year has been a significant struggle in recruiting new people into the class. So, this is designed to move the entry level salaries up to aid in recruitment,” says Foley.

The fiscal plan would give an additional 2% pay increase for three cook classes and an extra 3% salary boost for three custody classes, beginning next January.

Copyright © 2021 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, Legislature, News Tagged With: Crossroads Correctional Center, governor mike parson, Missouri Department of Corrections, Representative Lane Roberts, Trevor Foley, Western Missouri Correctional Center

Missouri’s governor warns against potential natural gas price gouging

February 18, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor said Thursday that numerous constituents have contacted his office about huge price increases in natural gas. Much of the state has been impacted by multiple snowstorms and below freezing temperatures for about ten days.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on February 4, 2021 (file photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

During a Statehouse news conference, Governor Mike Parson said the demand for heating fuel has increased significantly, with extremely cold temperatures. The governor tells Capitol reporters that he knows there have been some supply issues.

“However, we will not tolerate any effort to price gouge or take advantage of customers at a time when there is no other choice or alternative options,” Parson says.

The governor encourages Missouri residents who believe there has been price gouging to contact Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s consumer protection hotline at 1-800-392-8222. Parson says his administration will use all resources that are possible to stop any kind of gouging.

Meantime, a bipartisan group of Missouri’s congressional delegation is asking federal officials to review the natural gas supply, in light of extreme winter weather.

Republican U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt and Josh Hawley and seven of the state’s eight U.S. House members say there’s been a surge in energy demand across Missouri and that residents have been experiencing electricity outages and rolling blackouts.

“In light of these challenges, we need to ensure there is an adequate supply of affordable energy and natural gas for families, farmers and businesses in Missouri and the Midwest,” the letter from the lawmakers reads, in part.

The letter was signed by U.S. Sens. Blunt and Hawley and by U.S. Reps. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, Jason Smith, R-Salem, Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, Billy Long, R-Springfield, and Ann Wagner, R-Ballwin.

Copyright © 2021 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Agriculture, Business, Crime / Courts, Health / Medicine, News, Politics / Govt, Weather Tagged With: missouri attorney general eric schmitt, Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Missouri's consumer protection hotline, multiple snowstorms, natural gas costs, price gouging, U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, U.S. Rep. Billy Long, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt

Parson’s budget proposal would close half of housing units within Missouri women’s prison

February 18, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

The women’s prison in northeast Missouri’s Vandalia could have about half of its housing units permanently closed. Trevor Foley, with the state Department of Corrections (DOC), says Gov. Mike Parson’s new state budget proposal would make the change. Gov. Parson’s proposed $34.1 billion budget for the fiscal year beginning in July includes about $802 million for the Department of Corrections.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on December 2, 2020 (file photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

During a state House Budget Committee hearing this week, he says some of the inmates at the Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia have already been transferred to the women’s prison in northwest Missouri’s Chillicothe.

“No one has lost their jobs, there’s been no layoffs,” he says. “And we have significant capacity in our female beds. Our other female institution is probably arguably our best staffed institution in the state. So, we were able to consolidate spots into that facility and close roughly half of this one.”

Karen Pojmann, spokeswoman for the department, tells Missourinet the Vandalia prison has been battling major staffing shortages. The change makes the environment safer for staff and inmates.

Missouri’s current women’s prison population is about 1,800 but the state has the capacity to hold about 3,000. The Vandalia institution’s current population is roughly 772. Chillicothe Correctional Center’s is about 1,050.

Within the past year, the clothing factory at the Vandalia prison was also closed and is in the process of moving to a men’s prison in eastern Missouri’s Pacific.

Vocational (career and tech) education programs, higher education programs and special programs will continue at Vandalia. Adult basic education, special education and high school equivalency test preparation will be offered only at Chillicothe.

“Essentially, this means Vandalia won’t house women who haven’t yet earned high school diplomas. The primary reason for this change isn’t related to cost saving; it’s driven by the difficulty in filling academic teacher positions in the Vandalia area. Because we have space at Chillicothe, it’s much more efficient to move women who need adult basic education to a location where the services are sustainable and staff are available,” says Pojmann.

The full year savings from the permanent closure of 981 general population beds at Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correction Center in Vandalia is $5.4 million and 95 full-time equivalent jobs. The department wants the savings, along with other savings the department has found, to be reinvested in:

• Pay plans – market minimums for DOC staff and a DOC recruitment increase the governor announced in his State of the State address

• An expansion of the Division of Probation & Parole’s Officer Safety and Arrest Pilot program, including training and equipment for probation and parole officers

• Conversion of the former Crossroads Correctional Center in Cameron into a training academy, where custody staff can train in a setting similar to the setting in which they’ll be working

• A learning management system for staff training, using online modules

• An expansion of the department’s heavy equipment crew. The crew members complete construction projects within the prison system.

Pojmann says temporary housing unit closures for maintenance projects and staffing shortages may continue as needed, but she says there are no other permanent closures planned.

The Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia opened in 1998.

Copyright © 2021 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, Legislature, News Tagged With: Crossroads Correctional Center, Diagnostic and Correction Center, Division of Probation & Parole, governor mike parson, Karen Pojmann, Missouri Department of Corrections, Missouri House Budget Committee, Trevor Foley, Women’s Eastern Reception

Missouri could soon catch up on its jail reimbursement debt

February 18, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

Gov. Mike Parson’s FY2022 state budget proposal requests $58 million in hopes of getting Missouri completely out of debt in county jail reimbursements. For years, the state has not designated enough funding to pay counties and the city of St. Louis for part of a defendant’s entire local jail stay if the individual ends up going to state prison. Over the past couple years, the Missouri Legislature has been working to dig the state out of this hole.

Missouri Capitol (Photo courtesy of Alisa Nelson, Missourinet)

Missouri is the only known U.S. state that pays its counties and the city of St. Louis for pre-sentencing jail costs.

During a House Budget Committee hearing Wednesday, Trevor Foley, with the Missouri Department of Corrections, says the governor’s budget request would help the program catch up on overdue jail bills.

“That projection is based on looking at FY20 and the first two quarters of FY21 and then factoring in a COVID bounce back basically for the requests for reimbursement to go back up a little bit. And hopefully by the end of FY22, we will have the arrearage gone,” says Foley. “I will point out that this is a very volatile program. In FY21, we received $52 million in total requests. In FY20, we received $39 million in total requests. It is very difficult to project what we are going to receive in requests from a year-to-year basis.”

The state currently pays county jails about $22.58 per day, but the county’s overall daily cost to house a defendant is much higher. Karen Pojmann, spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Corrections, tells Missourinet the Missouri Sheriff’s Association conducted a survey a year ago and reported to the State Auditor that the actual cost ranged from $25.45 to $110 per day, with an average of $49 per day.

Rep. Peggy McGaugh, R-Carrollton, says she wants the state to pick up more of the local tab.

“The actual cost to house a prisoner is an average of $60 a day,” she says. “So, they go in the hole, every prisoner, every day, all year long. I would like to see that change.”

The governor’s request would also cover certain costs to transfer those offenders.

Previous stories:

Is Missouri sending the right people to prison? https://www.missourinet.com/2017/08/03/is-missouri-sending-the-right-people-to-prison/

(VIDEO) State owes counties $19 million in jail payments; Missouri sheriff feels the pain: https://www.missourinet.com/2017/09/25/video-state-owes-counties-19-million-in-jail-payments-missouri-sheriff-feels-the-pain/

Missouri falls six months behind in paying county jail bills: https://www.missourinet.com/2017/10/02/missouri-falls-six-months-behind-in-paying-county-jail-bills/

Legislator thinks Missouri should overhaul county jail payment system: https://www.missourinet.com/2017/10/09/legislator-thinks-missouri-should-overhaul-county-jail-payment-system/

Copyright © 2021 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, Legislature, News Tagged With: governor mike parson, Karen Pojmann, Missouri Department of Corrections, Missouri legislature, Missouri Sheriffs Association, Representative Peggy McGaugh, State Auditor, Trevor Foley

Nearly 1,000 people died in Missouri traffic crashes in 2020

February 18, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

The State Highway Patrol reports 989 lives were lost in Missouri traffic crashes in 2020, up from 881 in 2019. The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says the preliminary reporting indicates a 12% increase compared to 2019.

“Nearly every fatal crash that occurs is preventable,” says Missouri State Highway Patrol Public Information and Education Director, Cpt. John Hotz. “Over 90% of these crashes were the result of someone simply making a poor decision, primarily: driving too fast, driving distracted or driving impaired. Many of those killed were not wearing a seat belt.”

MoDOT says despite traffic volumes in the state being significantly lower for most of 2020, Missouri experienced its largest number of traffic fatalities since 2007. Notable increases were in unbuckled and speed related deaths, with both experiencing about a 25% jump from the previous year.

MoDOT says in 2020, 67% of drivers and passengers killed in car crashes were unbuckled and preliminary numbers indicate 389 people were killed in crashes involving excessive speed or driving too fast for conditions. In addition, there were 126 pedestrians killed in 2020 –the largest number of pedestrian deaths in Missouri’s recorded history.

“The pandemic reminded us even if a large portion of vehicles are removed from the roadways, poor driving behaviors still have significant and often deadly consequences.” says MoDOT State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer Nicole Hood. “We continue to work diligently in achieving the ultimate goal – zero traffic fatalities in Missouri. This year, we’re excited to introduce Missouri’s new strategic plan, a tool we hope will help us eventually reach that goal.”

Missouri has rolled out a new highway safety plan, called Show-Me Zero, Driving Missouri Toward Safer Roads. The effort includes four key focus areas to help make a difference: occupant protection (seat belts, car seats and helmets), distracted driving, speed and aggressive driving, and impaired driving.

It includes strategies for families and individuals as well as groups such as schools, businesses, local public agencies, law enforcement, health organizations, and statewide officials.

The plan can be viewed in its entirety at www.savemolives.com or by calling MoDOT at 888-ASK-MODOT.

Copyright © 2021 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, News, Transportation Tagged With: Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain John Hotz, Nicole Hood

Friday and Monday are both Missouri state holidays

February 11, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

Many state employees will be off on both Friday and Monday for Lincoln and Washington’s Birthday. Lincoln’s Birthday is Friday, while Washington’s Birthday is Monday.

Both are Missouri state and county holidays, and Washington’s Birthday is a federal holiday as well. County courthouses will be closed both days.

Most state employees will have both days off, with the exception of emergency services such as the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Corrections officers will be working in state prisons, and crews from the state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) will likely be treating roads.

There are 13 state holidays this year, because New Year’s Day will be celebrated on December 31 this year. That’s a Friday.

Copyright © 2021 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Business, Crime / Courts, News, Politics / Govt, Transportation Tagged With: Lincoln's Birthday, Missouri Department of Corrections, Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri state holidays, Washington's Birthday

Legislative effort to crack down on Missouri boarding schools after mounting claims of abuse and neglect

February 11, 2021 By Alisa Nelson

Missouri and South Carolina are the only states in the nation that do not regulate faith-based boarding schools for youth. The secret is out and several of these schools have packed up and moved to Missouri to carry on their business of alleged neglect as well as sexual, physical, and emotional abuse of students.

Colton Schrag (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

After an investigation by The Kansas City Star, the accusations have caught the attention of two state lawmakers. Representatives Rudy Veit, R-Wardsville, and Keri Ingle, D-Lee’s Summit, have filed legislation that could keep tabs on youth residential homes, including faith-based ones.

The allegations have even made their way to Dateline NBC. The television show will air a segment tonight at 9 p.m. CST about the legislative effort.

During a House committee hearing Wednesday about the bills, former students from across the country talked about getting beaten and being starved. Some said they were restrained for hours and others said they were put in isolation for days or even months. They recounted some students getting forced to eat their own vomit.

Colton Schrag says he was physically abused and barely fed while living at Agape Boarding School in southwest Missouri’s Stockton.

“I don’t know how a kid has not died in your state in these schools that exist because I can list three schools – Masters Ranch, Legacy Boys Academy, Agape Boarding School, Circle of Hope – where I was abused by all four of those staff members that worked at Agape and eventually left and started their own school here,” he says. “In the state of Missouri at Agape Boarding School, there is 165 students that woke up an hour ago that are forced to stand on the wall, eat cereal while other kids are eating pancakes, they’re forced to physical workouts until they puke. They may even be getting restrained as we speak. The restraints at Agape Boarding School result in kids getting picked up over the head and slammed into walls. I’ve seen kids put through walls. I’ve been put through a wall. Kids are getting slammed on tile, concrete, and asphalt.”

Allen Knoll (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

Allen Knoll also attended Agape from ages 13 to 15.

“I was that boy standing on the wall. I was that boy restrained for two months straight – every single day. That was me because sometimes I didn’t want to go to church,” he says. “This cannot be the end – this can be the start. I am adamantly opposed to regulating religious programs and I really do believe strongly that they should have a separation of state and church. But I also believe in the civil rights of these children. I do want to say that the abuse and the trauma that I went through had a tremendous impact on my life. I made terrible, poor decisions. I suffered from depression, anxiety. I still suffer from those things. I have learned to deal with them. Through all the things of not learning how to live properly and being forced and beaten in these programs, I didn’t make the best choices. This state failed me. The state of Mississippi failed me. I’m still here today. I’m being that voice. Let’s not let somebody else come up here in ten years and have to say, ‘Why did you fail me.’”

Emily Adams says she had attended the Bethesda Home for Girls in the state of Mississippi for about 17 months.

Emily Adams (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

“My abusers were closed down a year after I left,” she says. “The Bethesda Home for Girls was raided by the FBI and finally shut down. Guess where they came y’all? They came here. They opened up Mountain Park in Patterson. So can you please, please, please help the kids now. No more survivors. No more, please.”

Amanda O’Brien says her parents opened the Circle of Hope Girls Ranch in southwest Missouri’s Humansville. She says she was forced to restrain her friends for hours and some girls did not leave after they became adults.

“They were told if you left, the people in the town would either shoot you for being on their property because of the law in Missouri, shoot first ask questions later, or they were told that animals would get them, or they were told that they would just be prostitutes,” says O’Brien.

She recalls one girl with a mental disability was there for 13 years. The victim left last year – at the age of 30.

O’Brien was kicked out when she was seventeen years old.

Shelva Thomas-Jackson says she paid $42,000 for her son to attend Masters Ranch Christian Academy in southern Missouri’s Couch.

“Every day, I fight for him not to give up because I refuse for him to be a statistic and let David Bosley and Masters Ranch or any other of these places get away with hurting kids. I have been hurt and know what it’s like to be sexually abused and be hurt by people you trust. Hurt people hurt people,” she says. “And if you don’t stop it, if nothing changes, nothing is ever going to change and you are going to have recidivism everywhere. Do something, please!”

These schools can be hard to find because they are often located in the middle of nowhere. Under the legislation, they must notify the state of their existence, and provide medical records for all residents. It would require background checks for all employees and volunteers. The schools would have to undergo certain safety inspections.

Reps. Rudy Viet and Keri Ingle (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

“There’s not one thing we’re asking them to do that a good business person would not do,” says Representative Viet. “I don’t care if you are a religious facility or not – you would do these things. So right now, we are the go-to place if you want to run a facility, unregulated, and do unreligious type activity.”

In cases of suspected abuse or neglect or failure to comply with regulations, the state could request an injunction or restraining order to stop operations or remove children from the site. The bills would not allow the state to go in and mess with any religious curriculum the schools might offer.

“We are both strong proponents of faith and faith has the power to change people. But faith can’t be used as an excuse to abuse and neglect children. They were absolutely neglected and abused in every way. There was no one looking out for them,” says Representative Ingle. “Oftentimes, they would run away. When they engaged with law enforcement, law enforcement would take them back to facilities where facilitators would say, ‘Well, these children are liars. This didn’t really happen. They are bad kids.’ I’m here to tell you in my professional experience that when you label a kid as troubled or bad, people tend to not believe them, which makes them even more likely to be victimized. The state has absolutely zero way of knowing these facilities are in existence. I could have one of these facilities in my basement with unlimited children right now with zero regulation from the state – at all. We don’t know about the existence of these facilities until unfortunately something bad happens.”

Ingle has a long history in the child welfare system.

Jessica Seitz with Missouri KidsFirst, a state network of child advocacy centers, says the legislation is long overdue.

“This legislation would help us know where these facilities are, be able to check on kids, and if necessary, shut them down. We’ve got to protect children and ensure our state is not a hospitable place for predators,” Seitz says.

Kelly Schultz, director of the Missouri Office of Child Advocate, says calls the legislation “notification”, not licensure.

“This is state versus people hurting kids and giving us the bare minimum of what we need to do to protect children in the state of Missouri,” she says. “I read cases all day long. I talk about child abuse, neglect, and fatalities all day long. I’m usually not the butterfly when I come in and testify. I’m not warm and fuzzy in this committee. It turns my stomach to see what I read and I think the only thing that turns my stomach even more is somebody doing this in the name of God because not only do we have trauma and abuse and neglect, but that threatens to separate a child from God for eternity.”

Rep. Brenda Shields, R-St. Joseph, questioned if background checks on some of these operators would have yielded any criminal history.

“It is also a check of the Family Care Safety Registry. One of the places that was specifically stated today and has been reported in the press by The Kansas City Star, the individual had four preponderance of evidence findings, which would have placed them on the Family Care Safety Registry. So, that would have been caught,” says Schultz.

Emily van Schenkhof, executive director at Missouri Children’s Trust Fund, says the hearing was probably one of the most painful hearings she has listened to.

“The stories today have just broken my heart and have left me feeling embarrassed and ashamed of our state that we did not correct these problems much earlier. It also makes me feel embarrassment and shame that I did not know that these issues were going on as a child advocate,” she says. “As someone who has done my job as long as I have, I feel like I should have known that this was occurring and that I should have asked you all to fix these problems many years ago. I have a great deal of sadness in my heart right now because this is egregious that this has gone on this long and I echo just the sympathies of everyone that, for the folks in this audience, for what they went through, and for the failure of our state.”

Representative Mary Elizabeth Coleman, who chairs the House Children and Families Committee, questioned where the breakdown is happening after a call has been made to the Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline.

“I am just deeply upset that not only the unknown cases but the known cases were not acted upon,” she says. “When you have failure after failure about actually reported cases, and you have dedicated your life to doing this work has missed it, and I who care deeply about these issues has missed it.”

“In my work, what I really know and what I have seen over and over again is that there are bad actors and predators out there and there are evil people in this world. They want access to our children and it is our job as advocates and as lawmakers to put up really strong barriers between bad actors and evil doers,” says Van Schenkhof. “We want to make it as hard as possible to get to our children because we do know that the harder you make it for people to get to kids, the less likely abuse is to occur. What we have done with the laws that we have right now is we have basically a wire cutter. We’ve taken out the wire cutter and we have cut a giant chink in the fence that protects our kids. We have let evil doers and wrong doers come through this fence and hurt our kids. It is an invitation to predators. For far too long, we have silenced and discounted and ignored the voices of survivors and the voices of children. It is my deep hope that we have the courage to hear the people who came before me today and to make this change that absolutely I believe we are now compelled to make.”

Coleman, R-Arnold, believes if state law was followed appropriately, the children should have been protected.

“Because a child is abused by a person and we had credible accusations against individuals and we didn’t act. Let’s say we pass this and the governor signs it, what prevents failures in this system,” Coleman asks.

Van Schenkhof says no system is perfect.

“I think this bill would make a tremendous difference because we would have these places identified,” she says. “I’m not sure that I agree with you that this wouldn’t be enough. We have become a beacon for these homes. Just by putting up these barriers and putting these basic regulations in place, we will be less attractive for places to come here. I think that in of itself is a big change. I do think that other states that have done this have protected – they have healed that hole in the fence. There are lots of cases of child abuse that are never prosecuted, where the case goes from law enforcement to the prosecutor and the prosecutor decides not to take the case forward. I have seen egregious, egregious cases of child sexual abuse that prosecutors decide not to take to trial.”

Caitlin Whaley, of the Missouri Department of Social Services, says there is no ability on the Children’s Division part to force the operator to show a child who has allegedly been abused.

“That’s been a pain point for a long time. Even if we are able to see a child, there are standards that we have to meet to make findings,” says Whaley. “If you have children who are fearful that they’re going to be sent back to these facilities, you see a lot of instances where children might recant their stories. Even if they don’t recant, if we don’t have any physical evidence, it’s very difficult to oftentimes substantiate physical and sexual abuse findings if disclosures are not made immediately. And if you can’t see kids, you also can’t collect physical evidence. Even if you make a finding, there is no repercussions. There are a lot of systemic breakdowns happening that are cumulatively resulting in children being abused.”

Representative Dotty Bailey, R-Eureka, says abuse is abuse.

“I may not be able to see the hotline numbers, but I can certainly subpoena them through the House Speaker’s office. Here’s my problem, you’re going to push it back on the Legislature – it’s our fault. I’m calling you out on that. If you knew this was going on, somebody from your department should have come to one of legislators or senators and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got a problem we need to investigate.’ Not only is our job writing laws but it’s also investigating. I’m sitting up here a little steamed because I’m realizing the state has known about this but it takes The Kansas City Star to bring it to our attention. And now, it’s the Legislature’s fault because we haven’t changed the law. Bull! You all knew, and you never came to anybody. This has gone on I don’t know how many years. We will get the law changed but I will try for a subpoena and get that information. I’m sick of the departments in this state saying, ‘Sorry, we can’t be held accountable’. Just, ridiculous. And the egregious things that are happening to these people, somebody needs to be accountable for it. Yeah, it’s egg on our face because we haven’t changed the law. If you all knew about this and didn’t come to any of us – there’s 163 in the House and thirty-something in the Senate, God knows you could find somebody like me that will dig and dig and get every subpoena I need to find out what’s going on.”

The committee has not yet voted on the bills. Click here to view House Bill 560 and click here to view House Bill 557.

Copyright © 2021 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, Education, Legislature, News Tagged With: Agape Boarding School, Allen Knoll, Bethesda Home for Girls, Caitlin Whaley, Circle of Hope Girls Ranch, Colton Schrag, David Bosley, Emily Adams, Emily Van Schenkhof, Jessica Seitz, Kelly Schultz, Legacy Boys Academy, Masters Ranch Christian Academy, Missouri Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline, Missouri Children's Trust Fund, Missouri Children’s Division, Missouri Department of Social Services, Missouri House Children and Families Committee, Missouri KidsFirst, Mountain Park Baptist Academy, Office of Child Advocate, Representative Brenda Shields, Representative Dotty Bailey, Representative Keri Ingle, Representative Mary Elizabeth Coleman, Representative Rudy Viet, Shelva Thomas-Jackson

Proposed Missouri constitutional amendment would protect those with preexisting conditions (AUDIO)

February 11, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

You could be voting in 2022 on a proposed constitutional amendment in Missouri, requiring health insurers to cover preexisting conditions.

House Joint Resolution 50 is a two-page proposal. It’s sponsored by State Rep. Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, the powerful House Majority Floor Leader. He says the U.S. Supreme Court could overturn the Affordable Care Act this year.

State Reps. Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, (left) and Curtis Trent, R-Springfield, speak on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on May 13, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

“If it is (overturned), there’s one element in the Affordable Care Act that I certainly stand on and that is protecting vulnerable Missourians from facing the hardships that insurance would have if they couldn’t be covered because of their preexisting conditions,” Plocher says.

Plocher describes HJR 50 as a commonsense solution to a problem that all of us will face, at some point.

“As I myself am aging at some point I’m going to have too many preexistings where I probably couldn’t be insured at a reasonable rate,” says Plocher. “I think Missouri’s economy, Missouri’s families and the quality of life is better when we have affordable health insurance.”

HJR 50 has not been scheduled for a House hearing yet. Leader Plocher expects it to have bipartisan support.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s interview with Missouri House Majority Floor Leader Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, which was recorded on February 9, 2021:

https://cdn.missourinet.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/bh-plocherinterview.mp3

Copyright © 2021 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Business, Crime / Courts, Health / Medicine, Legislature, News Tagged With: Affordable Care Act, Des Peres, House Joint Resolution 50, Missouri House Majority Floor Leader Dean Plocher, preexisting conditions, U. S. Supreme Court

U.S. Marshals: Southern Missouri man who threatened to kill sheriff and judge in custody

February 9, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

The U.S. Marshals have announced that they’ve captured a southern Missouri man accused of threatening to kill Wright County Sheriff Sonny Byerley, a judge and their family members.

50-year-old Lonnie Richardson has been captured by the U.S. Marshals and by Laclede County Sheriff’s deputies near Lebanon (February 2021 photo courtesy of the Wright County Sheriff’s Facebook page)

50-year-old Lonnie Richardson was arrested Monday, after marshals and Laclede County Sheriff’s deputies found him hiding in a small camping trailer near southwest Missouri’s Lebanon. Richardson was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service-Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force. Richardson was taken into custody, after a brief standoff.

Richardson is from Hartville, which is about an hour east of Springfield. Online court records show he’s charged with three felonies in Wright County: second degree terrorist threat and two counts of tampering with a judicial officer. The alleged incidents happened on Thursday. The Marshals Office in Springfield say the threats prompted a multi-agency law enforcement effort to protect the sheriff, judge and family members.

The Wright County court has ordered that Richardson be jailed without bond, describing him as “a danger to the alleged victims, law enforcement and community.”

“Richardson threatened to kill public officials and their families. His reckless behavior threatened to tear the fabric of our criminal justice system. If you act in this lawless way, the U.S. Marshals will find you and bring you to justice,” U.S. Marshal Mark James of Missouri’s Western District says, in a written statement.

A Facebook post from the Wright County Sheriff’s office says Richardson also made a death threat toward a local police officer.

The importance of safety for judges and court officials was emphasized by Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice George Draper III, during last week’s State of the Judiciary Address.

“Our (court) security staff needs additional training and more standardized compensation. Our judges need to ensure their privacy can be protected, and, in my opinion, we need to be able to use witness protection services funds to protect judges and their families against credible threats of violence,” Justice Draper said, during last week’s address.

Chief Justice Draper is also calling for security upgrades to court buildings.

Copyright © 2021 · Missourinet

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, News, Politics / Govt Tagged With: Hartville, Laclede County Sheriff's Department, Lonnie Richardson, Missouri State of the Judiciary, Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice George Draper III, U.S. Marshal Mark James, U.S. Marshals, Wright County Sheriff Sonny Byerley

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