missouri attorney general eric schmitt Archives

Missouri Senate to hear bipartisan legislation on Wednesday on faith-based boarding schools; Householders remain jailed without bond

April 14, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

Bipartisan legislation aimed at regulating faith-based boarding schools like the now-defunct Circle of Hope Girls’ Ranch in southwest Missouri’s Humansville will be heard Wednesday by a Missouri Senate committee in Jefferson City.

State Reps. Keri Ingle (D-Lee’s Summit) and Rudy Veit (R-Wardsville) testify before a Missouri House committee in Jefferson City on February 10, 2021 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The Senate Seniors, Families, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee will hear the bill from State Reps. Rudy Veit (R-Wardsville) and Keri Ingle (D-Lee’s Summit). The Missouri House gave final approval to the Veit-Ingle bill in late March. That vote was 148-0.

Representative Ingle has said that the issue with faith-based boarding schools goes well beyond the Circle of Hope, and that this appears to be a systemic issue.

Current Missouri law doesn’t allow any regulation or oversight on residential care facilities for children, as long as the facilities declare themselves as religious.

“That meant that they had absolutely zero oversight at all,” Ingle told Missourinet in mid-February. “There were no regulations, no oversight. And that means no health and safety standards. No background checks, no criminal background checks.”

The owners of the Circle of Hope ranch remain jailed without bond, after being charged with 102 felonies between them. Boyd and Stephanie Householder are from southern Missouri’s Nevada, which is near Humansville.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt (R) announced the criminal charges in March in Jefferson City, telling Capitol reporters that the charges against the Householders are horrific.

“With 16 victims so far, we believe this to be one of the most widespread cases of sexual, physical and mental abuse patterns against young girls in Missouri history,” Schmitt announced in March.

Boyd Householder is charged with 80 felonies, including 56 counts of child abuse or neglect. Many of the charges are for alleged sex crimes.

Court documents allege that Boyd Householder punished one girl for drinking water, by forcing her to drink 220 ounces of water and then run until she vomited. In another case, duct tape was placed over a child’s mouth for several hours, before Boyd Householder allegedly “ripped the pieces off all at once,” according to court documents.

The 22 felony charges against Stephanie Householder include 12 counts of child abuse or neglect and ten counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

The next court appearance for the Householders is a preliminary hearing, which is set for May 20 in Stockton.

Ingle, the top Democrat on the Missouri House Children’s and Families Committee, was featured during a February episode of NBC’s “Dateline”, for her legislation.

Southeast Missouri congressman considering U.S. Senate run in 2022; pledges to fight for working families (AUDIO)

March 30, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

A southern Missouri congressman who serves as the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee says he’s considering a run for the U.S. Senate in 2022. U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Salem) spoke to Missourinet Monday evening outside the Statehouse in Jefferson City, after he met with the governor about the issue of feral hogs.

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Salem) is outside the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on March 29, 2021 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

“I will just say that I would put my record fighting for working-class families, farmers, small business owners and my conservative credentials amongst any names that’s been out there or suggested for the United States Senate,” Smith says.

Former Governor Eric Greitens and Attorney General Eric Schmitt, both Republicans, have announced they’re running for the Senate. Former State Sen. Scott Sifton (D-Affton) and Jefferson City native Lucas Kunce are two Democrats who have announced. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas has also been mentioned as a possible Senate candidate.

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R) is retiring. He’s finishing his second six-year Senate term on Capitol Hill.

Smith, who represents 30 counties in southern and southeast Missouri, emphasizes that he hasn’t made a decision yet.

“I was elected by the good people of southeast Missouri to do a job in Washington D.C. as the Republican leader of the (House) Budget Committee. I’m fighting everyday for our rural way of life to make sure that (President Joe) Biden doesn’t take away our freedoms and liberties, and that is my focus right now,” says Smith.

The Budget Committee is chaired by U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Kentucky), and Smith is the committee’s top Republican.

Smith, who’s served in Congress since 2013, was re-elected in November with 77 percent of the vote against Festus social worker Kathy Ellis. The sprawling Eighth Congressional District includes Cape Girardeau, Farmington, Poplar Bluff, Portageville, Kennett, West Plains and Rolla.

Meantime, Congressman Smith and 70 other congressional Republicans have signed a letter, calling for an investigation into the suspension of the southern border wall construction. Smith says President Biden’s decision has fueled a crisis at the border.

“What the president did on his first three hours in office, by a declaration, was to halt funding that was appropriated by Congress in a bipartisan way. You’re talking about billions of dollars that was appropriated in a bipartisan way, and he halted the construction of the southern border,” Smith says.

President Biden issued a January 20 proclamation, saying that building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border “is not a serious policy solution.” President Biden described it as a waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security. President Biden says his administration is committed to ensuring that the United States has a comprehensive and humane immigration system that operates consistently with our nation’s values.

As for the feral hog issue, Governor Mike Parson says State Sen. Jason Bean (R-Holcomb) also participated in Monday’s meeting with Congressman Smith, as well as Missouri Department of Conservation Director Sara Parker-Pauley and representatives from the USDA and U.S. Forest Service.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s interview with U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Salem), which was recorded outside the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City on March 29, 2021:

Missouri AG Schmitt: Circle of Hope is one of the most widespread cases of sexual and physical abuse patterns in state history

March 10, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

(Brian’s story updated to include details on the Householders’ initial court appearance)

The owners of the now-defunct Circle of Hope Girls Ranch in southwest Missouri’s Humansville remain jailed without bond, after being charged with 102 felonies between them. Boyd and Stephanie Householder are from southern Missouri’s Nevada, which is near Humansville. The Householders’ made their initial court appearance Wednesday in Stockton, and they pleaded not guilty.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced the charges during an emotional Wednesday afternoon press conference in Jefferson City. Schmitt had to stop speaking at one point, to compose himself.

He tells Capitol reporters the charges against the Householders are horrific.

“With 16 victims so far, we believe this to be one of the most widespread cases of sexual, physical and mental abuse patterns against young girls in Missouri history,” Schmitt says.

Boyd Householder is charged with 80 felonies, including 56 counts of child abuse or neglect. Many of the charges are for alleged sex crimes.

“This includes six counts of second degree statutory rape, seven counts of second degree statutory sodomy, six counts of sexual contact with a student,” says Schmitt.

Attorney General Schmitt also says Boyd Householder instructed victims on the best way to kill yourself, by cutting your wrists upward and not across.

The 22 felony charges against Stephanie Householder include 12 counts of child abuse or neglect and ten counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Schmitt tells Capitol reporters that his office is still working to identify and to contact victims. He’s urging anyone with information about the Circle of Hope ranch to contact his office at (573) 751-0309.

The next court appearance for Boyd and Stephanie Householder is March 17, in Cedar County Circuit Court in Stockton. Schmitt says they’re jailed in nearby Vernon County.

Missouri Attorney General Schmitt to provide Wednesday update on Circle of Hope facility

March 9, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s attorney general has called a press conference for Wednesday in Jefferson City regarding his office’s investigation into the troubled Circle of Hope Girls’ Ranch. The ranch is near southwest Missouri’s Humansville.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt (R) will brief reporters at noon, outside the Missouri Capitol.

The “Kansas City Star” newspaper, citing sources, reports the owners of Circle of Hope have been arrested on numerous charges, following a months-long investigation by Schmitt’s office. Missourinet Springfield television partner KOLR-10 reports the two owners have been charged with 102 felonies between them.

The issues at Circle of Hope, Agape Boarding School near Stockton and other facilities have drawn the attention of Missouri lawmakers in both parties.

State Reps. Keri Ingle, D-Lee’s Summit, and Rudy Veit, R-Wardsville, have filed bipartisan legislation that’s aimed at regulating faith-based boarding schools. Ingle notes that current state law doesn’t allow any regulation or oversight on residential care facilities for children, as long as the facilities declare themselves as religious.

“That meant that they had absolutely zero oversight at all. There were no regulations, no oversight. And that means no health and safety standards. No background checks, no criminal background checks,” Ingle told Missourinet in February.

Ingle was featured in February on NBC’s “Dateline”, for her legislation. She has told Missourinet that the issue with faith-based boarding schools goes well beyond the Circle of Hope, and appears to be a systemic issue in facilities across the state.

“Dateline” also profiled the story of Colton Schrag, who traveled to Jefferson City in mid-February to testify for Ingle’s bill. Schrag testified that he was physically abused and barely fed while living at the Agape ranch. Schrag told lawmakers that he was abused by four staff members at Agape.

Lamar Johnson’s appeal rejected by Missouri Supreme Court; Missouri AG and Gardner on opposite sides in case

March 2, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from convicted murderer Lamar Johnson of St. Louis, a case that has received national media attention. It’s also a case that has attracted attention from elected prosecutors from across the nation and Missouri.

47-year-old Lamar Johnson is serving a life sentence for first degree murder at the Jefferson City Correctional Center (2019 file photo courtesy of the Missouri Department of Corrections)

The 47-year-old Johnson has been incarcerated since 1995, serving a life sentence without parole for first degree murder for killing Marcus Boyd in 1994 in St. Louis. Since then, Johnson’s co-defendant, Phillip Campbell, signed an affidavit saying that Johnson wasn’t involved in the murder. An eyewitness recanted his identification of Johnson, and signed an affidavit that he received monetary payments from the state.

In 2019, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner filed a motion for a new trial in Johnson’s case, saying that Johnson was convicted based on police and prosecutorial misconduct. The circuit court ultimately concluded it had no authority to decide the motion, and Johnson appealed.

The Supreme Court of Missouri heard remote oral arguments in the case in April 2020, and issued its decision Tuesday.

“In conclusion, this case is not about whether Johnson is innocent or whether there exists a remedy for someone who is innocent and did not receive a constitutionally fair trial. This case presents only the issue of whether there is any authority to appeal the dismissal of a motion for a new trial filed decades after a criminal conviction became final. No such authority exists; therefore, this court dismisses the appeal,” the Supreme Court writes. All seven judges agreed Johnson’s appeal should be dismissed.

In a separate opinion, Missouri Chief Justice George Draper III said he believes a prosecutor may seek to overturn a wrongful conviction through a court rule allowing a party to file a motion to seek relief from a final judgment in certain circumstances.

Supreme Court Judge Laura Denvir Stith has also written a separate opinion, and says she believes a petition for a writ of habeas corpus could provide a mechanism for Johnson to seek relief.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gardner are on different sides in the Johnson case. The chief counsel for criminal appeals for the attorney general’s office, Shaun Mackelsprang, argued the case last April before the Missouri Supreme Court.

“A jury found him (Johnson) guilty, found him guilty of murder in the first degree and armed criminal action. To this day, there has not been a hearing with any evidence presented showing that he is, in fact, innocent,” Mackelsprang told the court in April 2020.

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.

Research time is key issue in Sunshine Law case heard by the Missouri Supreme Court

February 3, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri Supreme Court will decide whether public governmental bodies can charge fees for searching for and researching public records. It’s the key question in a major case that was heard Wednesday morning by the Supreme Court.

Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice George Draper III takes notes in Jefferson City during remote oral arguments on October 6, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Missouri Supreme Court communications counsel Beth Riggert)

The court heard remote oral arguments in a Sunshine Law dispute between GOP Governor Mike Parson’s office and former Democratic attorney general candidate Elad Gross. There is no timeframe on when the court will issue a decision.

The case started in October 2018 when Counselor Gross, who later ran for attorney general in 2020, sent a Sunshine request to the governor’s office regarding campaign contributions. The governor’s office said the request found more than 13,000 documents and would cost about $3,600 to produce and take up to 120 business days to provide. Gross later amended his request and received about 60 pages, some of which were redacted.

Gross contends the governor’s office charged excessive fees. However, then-Cole County Circuit Judge Patricia M. Joyce dismissed Gross’ case. Judge Joyce has since retired.

Counselor Gross is asking the Supreme Court to reverse Judge Joyce’s decision. He argues the governor’s office abused its discretion by acting arbitrarily and in not waiving or reducing fees with his first request.

The governor’s office is represented by State Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office. Deputy Attorney General Jeremiah Morgan argued the case on Wednesday.

Mr. Morgan’s main argument involves the plain language of the Missouri Sunshine Law, saying it authorizes research time to be charged at the actual cost and doesn’t require a waiver of those costs. Deputy Attorney General Morgan also says closed and privileged material can be redacted from responsive documents.

Gross also questions why he was being charged $40 per hour when Missouri law calls for record production “using employees of the body that result in the lowest amount of charges for search, research and duplication time.” Morgan says the $40 per hour rate is the hourly rate of the lowest-paid attorney on Governor Parson’s staff. He also says research time is a major part of an attorney’s work.

Deputy Attorney General Morgan says the governor’s office followed the plain language of the Sunshine Law. He’s asking the Missouri Supreme Court to affirm Judge Joyce’s ruling. He also told the court that if the governor’s office is bombarded with requests like this, they would need to add more staff.

Missouri Supreme Court Judges Laura Stith and Patricia Breckenridge had several questions for Morgan about the records in question. Judge Stith asked if they’re paper, electronic or both. Deputy Attorney General Morgan told her it’s a combination of both.

COVID concerns continue to impact the Missouri Supreme Court. Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice George Draper III was the only judge in the Jefferson City courtroom this morning. The other six judges were remote. Mr. Gross and Mr. Morgan were also at remote locations, and there were no reporters in the courtroom.

Click here to read Brian’s preview of the Gross vs. Parson case, which includes links to the 48-page brief from Counselor Gross, the 37-page brief from Deputy Attorney General Morgan and the amici brief from attorneys for the “St. Louis Post-Dispatch” and “Kansas City Star.”

Missouri Supreme Court to hear key Sunshine law case on Wednesday involving costs for public records

February 2, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

The Missouri Supreme Court will hear remote oral arguments on Wednesday in Jefferson City in a key Sunshine law dispute between GOP Governor Mike Parson’s office and a former Democratic candidate for attorney general.

The case is “Elad Gross vs. Governor Parson.” While there are several arguments in this case, the biggest one is whether public governmental bodies such as the governor’s office can charge costs for searching for and researching public records.

This case began in October 2018 when Elad Gross, who later ran for attorney general in 2020, sent a Sunshine request to the governor’s office regarding campaign contributions. The governor’s office said the request found more than 13,600 documents and would cost about $3,600 to produce and take up to 120 business days to provide.

Gross later amended his request and received about 60 pages, some of which were redacted.

Mr. Gross alleges that Governor Parson’s office charged excessive fees. However, then-Cole County Circuit Judge Patricia M. Joyce dismissed Gross’ case. Judge Joyce, a Democrat, has since retired.

Gross is appealing to the Missouri Supreme Court, which will hear the case Wednesday morning at 9. Counselor Gross wants the Missouri Supreme Court to rule that the governor’s office violated the state Sunshine law.

Mr. Gross has filed a 48-page brief with the Missouri Supreme Court, saying the governor’s office abused its discretion by acting arbitrarily and in not waiving or reducing fees with his first Sunshine request.

Gross also questions why he was being charged $40 per hour when state law calls for record production “using employees of the body that result in the lowest amount of charges for search, research and duplication time,” according to his brief.

Governor Parson’s office is being represented by Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office. Deputy Attorney General Jeremiah Morgan has filed a 37-page brief with the Missouri Supreme Court.

Deputy Attorney General Morgan’s main argument involves the plain language of the Sunshine Law, saying it authorizes research time to be charged at the actual cost and does not require a waiver of those costs. Mr. Morgan also says closed and privileged material can be redacted from responsive documents.

Morgan also addresses Gross’ complaint about the $40 rate, saying the $40 per hour rate is the hourly rate of the lowest-paid attorney on the Governor’s staff. Morgan also says that research time is a major part of an attorney’s work.

“The fundamental question in this case is whether a public governmental body, such as the Governor’s office, can charge its actual costs for searching, researching, or duplicating public records, even if some or all of the research is done by an attorney that is an employee of the public governmental body. The answer is, unquestionably, yes,” Deputy Attorney General Morgan writes, in his brief.

Morgan says the governor’s office followed the Sunshine Law’s plain language, and he’s asking the Missouri Supreme Court to affirm Judge Joyce’s ruling.

This case is also attracting major interest from other groups, who have filed what are known as amici briefs. That means friends of the court.

Attorneys Bernard Rhodes and Brad Johnson represent the “Kansas City Star”, and attorneys Joseph Martineau and Lewis Rice represent the “St. Louis Post-Dispatch.” They’ve filed an amici brief.

“The Sunshine Law does not allow public governmental bodies to charge for time attorneys spend reviewing public records because no provision in the Sunshine Law authorizes such charges,” the newspaper attorneys write, in their 31-page brief.

The Missouri Press Association and the “Missouri Sunshine Coalition” have also submitted amici briefs.

The Missouri Municipal League, which represents about 650 municipalities across the state, has also filed an amici brief.

COVID will impact Wednesday’s oral arguments. Counselor Gross and Deputy Attorney General Morgan will argue their cases remotely, via zoom. Chief Justice George Draper will be the only Missouri Supreme Court judge in the Jefferson City courtroom. The other six judges will participate remotely.

The Missouri Supreme Court has been conducting remote arguments since the Lamar Johnson case in April 2020, due to COVID concerns.

Missouri lawmakers to hear testimony Monday on 2020 presidential election resolution (AUDIO)

December 14, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

A Missouri House committee will hear testimony Monday evening in Jefferson City on a proposed House resolution that declares that the House has no faith in presidential election results from six key states.

State Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, speaks on the Missouri House floor in Jefferson City on November 10, 2020 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

State Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, filed the resolution, which names Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. Hill represents St. Charles County in the Legislature.

“Many of my constituents through all forms of media reached out to me, asking me to do something. And it’s not just me, it’s all representatives throughout the state,” Hill says.

66 GOP state representatives have signed Hill’s resolution. They include House Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, who will be Speaker in January. Outgoing Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, and Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann, R-O’Fallon, did not sign the resolution.

State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, D-St. Louis, is critical of Hill’s resolution, saying President Trump lost the election. Aldridge describes Hill’s resolution as meaningless, and says it “will do nothing of substance.” In a statement, Aldridge says Missourians want lawmakers to come together to work on issues like COVID.

The resolution says that if a full and fair investigation isn’t done, Congress should refuse to accept the electoral votes from those six states.

“We’re seeing in key states where we have razor-thin margins, lots of evidence of fraud, and most of it is not being investigated. So, we as a state have to make a statement,” says Hill.

Hill’s three-page resolution alleges that 50,000 votes held on USB cards are missing in one Pennsylvania county, and that more than 20,000 nonresidents cast ballots in Georgia. It also says that absentee ballot and mail-in ballot laws passed in the six states were likely ignored and violated.

“Future elections are at stake,” Hill says. “If we don’t do anything now, even though we’re Missouri and we did it right, if we don’t do anything now, if we don’t file our grievances, then we have no argument later.”

The House Special Committee on Government Oversight will hold Monday’s hearing at 5 p.m.

The oversight committee’s ranking Democrat, State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, wants Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (R) to appear before the committee on Monday, regarding his decision to join the Texas federal litigation.

The U-S Supreme Court on Friday rejected the Texas lawsuit. The “New York Times” reports the lawsuit sought to bar Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin from casting their electoral votes for former Vice President Joe Biden (D).

Representative Merideth says Schmitt’s recent decision is directly relevant to the resolution that will be heard on Monday.

“To be clear, you did not simply join in the Texas federal litigation. You led a group of 17 attorneys general in backing Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s baseless legal theories,” Merideth writes, in part.

Merideth also says there is no evidence of alleged widespread election fraud.

If the oversight committee approves Hill’s symbolic resolution, it would then head to the Missouri House floor for debate this month.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s interview with State Rep. Justin Hill, R-Lake St. Louis, which was recorded on December 10, 2020:

Koenig vs. Lavender Missouri Senate race is expected to be a close one

October 28, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

Republican state Senator Andrew Koenig of Manchester is running for re-election in the 15th Senatorial District against Democrat and current state Representative Deb Lavender of Kirkwood.

Sen. Andrew Koenig, R-Manchester

The affluent district includes Ballwin, Chesterfield, Fenton, Glendale, Sunset Hills, Valley Park and Wildwood. Though redrawing of the legislative boundaries each decade has shifted the district a little, Republicans have held that seat for at least the past 20 years.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, previously represented the 15th.

Koenig, who served from 2009-2016 in the Missouri House, is also a member of the Senate’s Conservative Caucus. He owns a construction company specializing in roofing and painting. He is also a licensed insurance adjuster.

He is running on a platform that includes:

*Being a pro-life advocate
*Removing barriers to adoption
*Lowering taxes
*Cutting government waste
*Fighting against tax cuts to big businesses
*Supporting strong public schools and safe neighborhoods

Rep. Deb Lavender, D-Kirkwood

Lavender is a member of the House Budget Committee. She has been a state Representative since 2014. She owns an outpatient physical therapy clinic.

Her platform includes:

*Expanding Medicaid
*Additional funding for public education
*Protecting women’s access to abortion
*Investing in citizens instead of corporations
*Supporting background checks for all gun sales