Crime / Courts Archives

Missouri Supreme Court extends suspension again for all state courts, now through May 1

April 1, 2020 By Ashley Byrd

The Supreme Court of Missouri has further extended its statewide suspension of most in-person proceedings through Friday, May 1 and subject to
certain listed exceptions for urgent matters required under the constitution or state law or necessary to protect health or safety.

Spokesperson Beth Riggert says exceptions include “those that have a direct and immediate impact on someone’s life. For instance, there are Constitutional guarantees given to criminal defendants and juveniles facing criminal-type charges. Other cases include temporary restraining orders, emergency child protection orders, orders of protection in domestic violence cases.”

The Missouri Supreme Court

The State Supreme Court already canceled its own in-person oral arguments scheduled in April, but the cases can still be considered. The parties can decide whether they want the case submitted on the written materials, postponed or other options.

The courts can still consider or rule on any matter that does not require an in-person proceeding. The high court’s ruling does not change the deadlines required through Missouri’s electronic filing system.

Riggert says the Supreme Court has left it to local courts to conduct business abiding by CDC precautions.

Local court activities are listed here in a central website.

Missouri grocers working with attorney general to prevent gouging during pandemic (AUDIO)

March 26, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s attorney general is teaming up with the Missouri Grocers Association (MGA), to protect you from any potential price-gouging during the COVID-19 outbreak.

State Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on March 2, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Dan Shaul, R-Imperial, heads the 1,300 member MGA. He told the attorney general’s office last week that there will be upward price pressure on some commodities, due to the rapid sale of them.

“We’re (the attorney general’s office and MGA) working together to make sure, one, to protect the consumers of the state, to make sure they’re getting a fair deal on their food,” Shaul says. “But also making sure that the businesses in Missouri aren’t subject to frivolous complaints.”

Shaul notes egg prices are continuing to rise, and he expects some relief on that next week.

He tells Missourinet the aim of the partnership with Schmitt’s office is to provide you with food at a reasonable price, and to protect retailers from “bad actors.”

“Anytime you have a crisis like this, the majority of the grocery industry in Missouri is acting properly, and doing what they can to meet the needs of the citizens of Missouri,” says Shaul.

He says the grocery industry is working tirelessly to serve their communities, during the pandemic. Shaul says Missouri’s grocery workers and retailers have answered the call from Missourians for food.

But he also agrees with Schmitt’s position that “there are a few bad actors that may cast Missouri’s hardworking grocers in a bad light.”

Consumers who see price gouging at their stores can call Schmitt’s office at 1-800-392-8222.

Missouri’s governor says many residents have seen empty grocery store shelves, and emphasizes this is a demand issue and not a supply one. Governor Mike Parson says Missouri’s food supply remains strong, adding that the state’s farmers, ranchers and grocers are working hard to restock shelves quickly.

Click here to listen to the full six-minute interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and Missouri Grocers Association President Dan Shaul, which was recorded on March 26, 2020:

Parson expects more cases of coronavirus could pop up in Missouri prisons

March 26, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

Last week, the state Department of Corrections reported an inmate at the St. Joseph prison in northwest Missouri tested positive for COVID-19. During an interview today with Gov. Mike Parson, he says it might not be the last one within Missouri’s prison system.

Parson expects more cases of coronavirus could pop up in Missouri prisons

“We knew that the prisons, the nursing homes, your seniors are the most vulnerable people here to get this virus,” says Parson. “So we were somewhat prepared for that. So as soon as we got that, they were isolation. They were taken to isolation and are figuring out who they had been around.”

Parson says prevention is key.

“This is a virus,” says Parson. “So we know, no matter where you’re at, people are going to get the virus, no matter whether you live in rural Missouri, urban Missouri, whether you’re in prison, whether you’re in a normal daily life environment.”

The St. Joseph prisoner is the first reported case of COVID-19 among MODOC offenders. There are no reported cases of COVID-19 among staff. The department says medical and custody staff followed all safety protocols to minimize exposure.

Parson says the state is trying to find out how the prisoner got the virus.

The governor says he’s not aware of any others within Missouri’s prisons testing positive for the respiratory disease. The state operates 21 prisons with about 26,000 offenders.

Missouri man allegedly planning hospital bombing dies after FBI confrontation

March 26, 2020 By Missourinet Contributor

The FBI says a man shot and killed Tuesday in Belton, near Kansas City, was the subject of a monthslong domestic terrorism investigation and was actively planning a bombing. KMBC-TV in Kansas City reports agents were attempting to arrest Timothy Wilson, 36, in Belton. Wilson, who was armed with a weapon, was injured and taken to a hospital, where he later died.

Missouri man allegedly planning hospital bombing dies after FBI confrontation

According to the FBI, the investigation revealed Wilson was a potentially violent extremist, motivated by racial, religious and anti-government views. He was actively planning to commit an act of domestic terrorism, a bombing, and decided to accelerate his plan as a result of the current coronavirus health crisis. The FBI said Wilson considered various targets and ultimately settled on a hospital in an attempt to harm many people.

“Wilson had taken the necessary steps to acquire materials needed to build an explosive device. At all times during the investigation, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force kept close track of Wilson in order to protect public safety,” the FBI said in a news release.

The bureau said it was ready to arrest Wilson when he arrived to pick up what he thought was a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. There was no actual bomb.

According to Don Ledford with the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Western District, he says there is no probable cause arrest statement or court documents because no charges were ever filed.

View the FBI press release here.

Missouri prisoners to make hand sanitizer for coronavirus response efforts

March 24, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The state prison system has some inmates in southeast Missouri making hand sanitizer. During a press conference, Gov. Mike Parson says the prisoners are working through Missouri Vocational Enterprises to help get a handle on the coronavirus.

Missouri prisoners to make hand sanitizer for coronavirus response efforts

“We’ll be able to produce more than 2,400 gallons of hand sanitizer every two days,” says Parson. “This could continue to be very helpful as we monitor our supply chains. We will continue using all the tools we have available to provide solutions and protect the health and safety of Missourians during this time.”

The Missouri Vocational Enterprises chemical plant is at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic & Correctional Center in Bonne Terre.

The Missouri Department of Corrections says the sanitizer will be available for government agencies and nonprofits to buy.

The product will be available on the Missouri Vocational Enterprises website.

Missouri prison inmate tests positive for COVID-19

March 23, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The Missouri Department of Corrections (MODOC) says an inmate has tested positive for COVID-19, commonly known as coronavirus. This notification marks the first reported case of COVID-19 among MODOC offenders. There are no reported cases of COVID-19 among staff.

MODOC spokesperson Karen Pojmann tells Missourinet the offender has been sick for a long time with multiple medical conditions and the department does not know how the man contracted the disease.

Missouri prison inmate tests positive for COVID-19

The offender is currently being treated at a Kansas City area hospital, where he was admitted March 19. Before being hospitalized, he was being monitored for a suspected respiratory condition and had been isolated in a negative airflow chamber at Western Reception, Diagnostic & Correctional Center in northwest Missouri’s St. Joseph since March 4. No other prisoners have had contact with the infected person since March 4, according to the department.

The Missouri Department of Corrections says medical and custody staff have followed all safety protocols to minimize exposure. According to MODOC, staff interacting with the offender have worn personal protective equipment in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. All rooms and vehicles the offender occupied were immediately sanitized. All staff who have been in contact with the infected offender have been notified.

The prison has roughly 1,600 inmates.

The department says preventative measures in place to deal with the coronavirus include screening of all staff members and anyone else seeking entrance to MODOC facilities, offices and other properties; enforcement of strict sanitization schedules at each facility with cleaning supplies recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); the suspension of offender visits; the suspension of internal transfers; and close monitoring of all offenders and staff, with isolation procedures in place to protect offenders and staff from anyone exhibiting signs of a communicable disease. Corizon Health, which provides offender medical care at all MODOC facilities, is equipped with tests, medical supplies, personal protective equipment and a pandemic protocol.

Throughout the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak, MODOC will post public updates on its website.

Parson: fallen Springfield officer “is a hero we will never forget”

March 20, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

(Updated with information from Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams, that the funeral service is private)

Missouri’s governor has ordered U.S. and Missouri flags to be flown at half-staff Saturday at all government buildings in southwest Missouri’s Greene County, in honor of a fallen Springfield police officer.

Springfield Police Officer Christopher Walsh, who served two tours in Iraq, was shot and killed in the line of duty in Springfield on March 15, 2020 (photo courtesy of Springfield Police Department website)

Officer Christopher Walsh was shot and killed in the line of duty late Sunday night, while responding to a Kum and Go convenience store, where three civilians had been shot and killed. Another civilian was critically wounded.

Governor Mike Parson says Officer Walsh was killed while trying to provide medical help to one of the shooting victims. The governor notes Officer Walsh served two deployments in Iraq, and served for 14 years in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Governor Parson describes Officer Walsh as “a hero we will never forget.”

“Officer Christopher Walsh leaves us with a legacy of brave, selfless service to Missouri and our nation that is an inspiration to us all. His commitment to public service included two deployments in support of Operation Iraqui Freedom during his 14 years in the U.S. Army Reserve and three years as an officer with the Springfield Police Department. On Sunday, he was tragically and senselessly killed after rushing to an active shooting scene and courageously attempting to provide life-saving care to a civilian shooting victim. Officer Walsh is a hero we will never forget,” Governor Parson said, in a written statement.

Springfield Police say the suspect, 31-year-old Joaquin Roman, also shot Springfield Officer Josiah Overton, who suffered non-life threatening injuries. Roman was found dead inside the store, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Officer Walsh’s funeral service is Saturday. Springfield Police Chief Paul Williams tells Missourinet that the funeral is private, for family and invited guests only.

Click here to read the governor’s proclamation.

A fund has been established, to assist Officer Walsh’s family.

Missouri man in prison for violent 1997 burglary could be a free man soon

March 16, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

A St. Louis area man locked up for a 1997 home burglary could leave prison walls soon. Last week, Cole County Judge Daniel Green of mid-Missouri ordered to have the convictions overturned of Jonathan Irons, who is serving 50 years for a crime he has maintained that he did not commit.

Jonathan Irons (2019 photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Corrections)

Green’s decision follows the Missouri State Highway Patrol not being able to analyze an unidentifiable fingerprint withheld from Irons’ court trial. Green’s order is pending any objections from Attorney General Eric Schmitt and St. Charles County prosecutor Tim Lohmar.

During the break-in at a home in the St. Louis suburb of O’Fallon, the burglar fired several gun shots, seriously injuring the victim in the head. A fingerprint was pulled from the only door to the burglarized home. It did not belong to Irons or to the homeowner.

That evidence was not included into Irons’ court trial all those years ago. It turned up years after the trial was over when Reginald Williams, a friend of Irons, found a document in evidence files from the O’Fallon Police Department detailing a second fingerprint.

Irons, who was 16 years old at the time of the crime, thinks the print could have cleared him as a suspect in the case. His attorneys have argued other misconduct occurred by the police investigator in the case, who fell ill during the trial and later died. The prosecution argued during the trial that Irons was seen the day of the burglary with a gun in the neighborhood where the crime happened.

WNBA star Maya Moore, a Jefferson City native, has been fighting alongside Irons and her local family for years to get Irons released. Moore has played eight seasons for the Minnesota Lynx. Last year, she announced she was taking a break from the game, in part to try and help Irons walk away from prison as a free man soon.

“That’ll be a sweet day,” she says during a conference call with reporters. “We want to see that day very soon.”

Moore says the battle has been worth it.

“This has been the most significant thing I have invested in,” says Moore. “I feel privileged to be able to walk with Jonathan and stand and use my voice for people like him who haven’t had a voice. It’s just an honor. It’s been hard. It’s been emotionally and mentally just challenging.”

Moore started a non-profit organization, Win With Justice, which aims to, in part, redefine what a win is in the criminal justice system and shines a light on wrongful convictions. Whether she goes back to the game is still up in the air.

Missouri Representative proposes to clarify Supreme Court’s bail rules

March 12, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The state Supreme Court rolled out rules last year saying Missouri judges can only charge bail fees to help ensure that defendants will show up to court or if they pose a danger to others. Critics of the rules have said violent criminals have been released from jail. State Representative David Evans, R-West Plains, is proposing to clarify when judges can require bail.

Missouri Representative proposes to clarify Supreme Court’s bail rules

“These bills assure that local judges have the discretion to make common sense decisions when it comes to release on bond from local jails,” says Evans, a former judge.

During a Missouri House Judiciary Committee hearing, Darrell Moore with the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys says he backs the plan.

“Any new rule change needs education,” he says. “Some of the judges, I think, out there are confused and some of them actually believe that the new bond rules were designed to let people out, which was not the intent. This bill just simply clarifies that.”

No one spoke in opposition to House Bill 1519. The committee has voted in favor of the bill. Another committee is reviewing the legislation.