Laclede County Sheriff's Department Archives

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.

Parson: southwest Missouri police officer who contracted COVID in November has died

December 30, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor has ordered flags to fly at half-staff at all government buildings in southwest Missouri’s Laclede County on Saturday, to honor a Lebanon police officer who’s died from COVID.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson says
Lebanon Police officer Kendle Blackburn died from COVID on December 28, 2020 (photo courtesy of the Lebanon Police Department’s Facebook page)

Governor Mike Parson says Officer Kendle Blackburn contracted COVID in November, while serving in his capacity as an officer. Officer Blackburn died on Monday.

“My years in law enforcement taught me that those who wear the badge are often called to the profession because of their desire to protect others and improve their communities,” Governor Parson says, in a written statement. “Officer Kendle Blackburn was that kind of police officer. Known as the friendliest police officer in Lebanon, he was one who loved people. May his legacy serve as a model for other officers, and may we all be inspired by the support the community has shown for Officer Blackburn’s family and fellow officers during this difficult time.”

The Lebanon Police Department’s Facebook page says Mr. Blackburn fought a tough battle with COVID, adding that the department appreciates everything that was done to support the officer while he was in the hospital.

“He was the example of community policing and his life touched so many others in a positive way,” the Lebanon Police Facebook post reads, in part.

Governor Parson’s proclamation says Mr. Blackburn served as a law enforcement officer for more than 21 years, starting in 1999 with the Laclede County Sheriff’s Department. He then moved to the Lebanon Police Department, where he served for more than 16 years.

Lebanon, which has about 15,000 residents, is located near I-44. It’s northeast of Springfield.