Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Area Courthouse, Police, and Crime Reports for July 10th, 2024

On June 25th, Iowa Capital Dispatch and multiple other news outlets reported that Kathryn Zimmerman, the former Ringgold County Director of Conservation, is suing Ringgold County, the Board of Supervisors, the County Auditor, a county deputy, and an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation employee in federal district court alleging they engaged in a pattern of gender discrimination, sexual discrimination, retaliation, harassment, slander, defamation, and malicious prosecution. As of June 25th, according to Iowa Capital Dispatch, the county and the Iowa DCI had not filed an answer.

On July 2nd, Charles Hunter failed to appear in Nodaway County Associate Circuit Court on charges of Driving While Revoked, No Valid License, and Tampering with Property of Another. A warrant was issued and bond set at $500, cash only.

On July 2nd, Brandon Brown (37) of Burlington Junction pleaded guilty in Nodaway County Associate Circuit Court to a charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was fined $150 plus costs by Judge Robert Rice.

On July 2nd, Seema Kumari (38) failed to appear in Nodaway County Associate Circuit Court on a charge of Domestic Assault (Felony). A warrant was issued and bond set at $500, cash only.

On July 2nd, Avery Rothwell (19) of Weston (MO) pleaded guilty in Nodaway County Associate Circuit Court to a charge of Stealing. He was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to make restitution of $61.41 to the Maryville Wal-Mart by Judge Robert Rice.

On July 2nd, Anthony Bodle (35) of Maryville pleaded guilty in Nodaway County Associate Circuit Court to a charge of Assault. He was given two years probation and ordered not to have contact with the victim by Judge Robert Rice.

On July 2nd, Charles Macias (35) of Maryville pleaded guilty in Nodaway County Associate Circuit Court to a charge of DWI and was sentenced to two years probation and 10 days shock time in jail with credit for time served by Judge Robert Rice.

On July 2nd, the US Department of Justice announced the indictment of Kirill Gordei (34) of Hallandale (FL) alleging he smuggled advanced scientific technology to Russian customers in violation of US sanctions against that country. 

On July 2nd, Douglas Robertson (56) of Olathe (KS), the former vice president of KanRus Trading Company, pleaded guilty to filing false export forms with the US government and sold sophisticated and controlled avionics equipment to customers in Russia without the required licenses from the US Department of Commerce. The defendant continued to sell this equipment to Russia after the “Special Military Operation” began in Ukraine in February 2022. The US Department of Justice, in their news release, wrote as follows: “According to court documents, as part of his guilty plea, Robertson admitted that between 2020 and when he was arrested in March 2023, he conspired with others – including co-defendants Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky of Lawrence, Kansas, and Oleg Chistyakov, aka Olegs Čitsjakovs, of Riga, Latvia, – to smuggle U.S.-origin avionics equipment to end users in Russia, as well as Russian end users in other foreign countries by, among other actions, knowingly filing false export forms and failing to file required export forms with the U.S. government. In these forms, Robertson and his conspirators lied about the exports’ value, end users, and end destinations.”

On July 2nd, the US Department of Justice announced the indictment of Megan Shine (47) of Warwick (RI) on charges that she duped elderly people into sending payments between $20 to $30 using mailings that falsely led recipients to believe they were entitled to cash prizes or other valuable benefits. Many victims had allegedly been contacted multiple times. Legitimate sweepstakes companies like Publishers Clearinghouse do not charge for entering their sweepstakes, and Powerball and Mega Millions tickets cost $2 each. 

On July 2nd, the US Department of Justice reported that Jesus Ernesto Dessens-Romero (28) of Agua Prieta (Mexico) was found guilty by a jury in Arizona Federal District Court of multiple alien smuggling counts, such as Conspiracy to Transport, Transportation of Illegal Aliens for Profit, and Bringing in Illegal Aliens to the US for Profit. The jury found the defendant placed human life in jeopardy during these offenses. He was sentenced to 120 months in prison by Judge John Hinderaker.

On July 2nd, the Western Missouri US Attorney’s Office reported that Lucas Coltran (24) of Newtown (MO) was sentenced to 9 years in prison without parole and ordered to forfeit $10,000 to the Federal Government by Judge Roseann Ketchmark. The defendant allegedly participated in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl to Northwest Missouri from October 2020 to January 2023, distributing at least 5,662 pills, making $40 per pill, and wiring proceeds to Mexico. The defendant allegedly continued to do it even after the death of an acquaintance.

On July 3rd, the US Department of Justice reported that Kevin Brandes (60) and William Graham (56), both of Kansas City, pleaded guilty to charges that they conspired with bankers to circumvent money laundering controls at a Missouri bank as required by the Bank Secrecy Act. Between 2013 and 2019, the defendants allegedly signed forms for their sweepstakes company allowing them to circumvent money laundering regulations. In addition, the defendants allegedly signed a statement containing false information stating they had not received negative or unwanted legal action when they had.

On July 3rd, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a lawsuit against New York alleging that state violated Missourians’ First Amendment right to hear from GOP nominee Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. On May 30th, Trump was convicted by a jury in New York on 34 counts related to hush money payments he allegedly made to Stormy Daniels through his then-attorney, Michael Cohen. During the course of that case, the Judge, Manuel Merchan, imposed a gag order on Trump. Bailey argues this gag order interferes with Trump’s ability to campaign, interferes with the Presidential election, and denies the people the right to cast a fully informed vote for President. The suit requests that the US Supreme Court declare that New York’s restrictions on Trump’s ability to campaign unlawfully interferes with the presidential election, remove any gag orders against the former President, and halt the impending sentencing until after the presidential election.

On July 3rd, the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested Sara Service (31) of Bethany in Harrison County on charges of DWI, No Valid License, and Failure to Drive on Right Half of Roadway.

On July 3rd, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against David Chandler (43) of King City alleging Trespassing.

On July 3rd, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against Donald Hume (43) of Maryville alleging Careless & Imprudent Driving and Resisting Arrest.

On July 3rd, Harrison County Prosecutor Alex Van Zandt filed charges against Cindy Flowers (59) of Bethany alleging DWI (4th Offense, Felony). 

On July 3rd, Nodaway County Prosecutor Tina Dieter filed charges against James Gabbert (48) of Maryville alleging Possession of Marijuana in Public Area, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Tampering with Evidence (Felony). 

On July 3rd, Nodaway County Prosecutor Tina Dieter filed charges against Sherry Young (47) of Maryville alleging No Valid License (Felony) and Trespassing. 

On July 3rd, Nodaway County Prosecutor Tina Dieter filed charges against Tyler Marriott (22) of Maryville alleging Stealing. An affidavit from the Maryville Police Department alleges the defendant stole $180 from someone.

On July 3rd, Nodaway County Prosecutor Tina Dieter filed charges against Raymond Groce (38) of St. Joseph alleging Stealing (Felony). An affidavit from the Maryville Police Department alleges the defendant and two other people stole over $1,000 worth of merchandise from the Maryville Wal-Mart. Bond was set at $30,000 with defendant given leave to post 10% cash.

On July 3rd, Nodaway County Prosecutor Tina Dieter filed charges against David Valenzuela (25) of Lenox alleging DWI (Prior) and Driving While Revoked.

On July 4th, the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested Pablo Tristan (28) of Bethany in Harrison County on charges of DWI, No Valid License, and No Plates. 

On July 4th, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Department reported that shortly after 3 am, there was a shooting on Broadway in Clearfield. Authorities discovered a deceased male victim. A person of interest was taken into custody. The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations, Adams County Sheriff’s Department, Ringgold County Sheriff’s Department, Taylor County Ambulance, Iowa State Highway Patrol, Taylor County Attorney, and the Adams/Taylor County Medical Examiner are all involved.

On July 6th, St. Gregory Barbarigo Parish of Maryville reported in an email that a scam email was received by some parishoners from someone claiming to be the priest. 

On July 7th, Nodaway County Prosecutor Tina Dieter filed charges against Gabriel Schuetz (23) of Maryville alleging Harassment (Felony) and Unlawful Use of a Weapon (Felony). Bond was set at $30,000 with the defendant to be released on his own recognizance.

On July 8th, Pamela Wissler (39) of Graham pleaded guilty in Nodaway County Circuit Court to charges of Stealing and Possession of Controlled Substance (Felony). She was sentenced to 5 years probation and ordered to pay restitution of $542.73 by Judge Corey Herron.

On July 8th, the Maryville Forum reported that the DOT is ending its Adopt-a-Highway program that had been in place for over 20 years. Recently, a section of Interstate 44 was adopted in memory of Kevin “Rockhead” Johnson. The sign was taken down and a program review initiated after it turned out that Johnson had been executed by the state for the killing of a police officer. The review subsequently found that the costs and safety risks outweighed the benefits.

On July 8th, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey wrote a letter challenging a proposed rule from the Missouri Department of Commerce that limits American firearm exportation, gives semi-automatic guns new classifications, makes it harder to get exceptions, and increases paperwork. Bailey argues that the rule threatens firearms manufacturers by restricting their ability to sell firearms internationally, creating lost sales, reduced earnings, lost jobs, decreased investments, and a weakening of the industry. Bailey argues the Biden Administration overstepped its legal authority.

On July 8th, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against Paul Murphy (39) of Albany alleging DWI and Driving While Revoked (Felony, 6th Offense). Bond was set at $2,500 cash or corporate surety, posted by the defendant. 

On July 8th, Harrison County Prosecutor Alex Van Zandt filed charges against Hayley Tuggle (35) of Ridgeway alleging Possession of Controlled Substance. Bond was set at $7,000, cash only.

On July 9th, the Associated Press an appellate court ruled that Sandra Hemme was wrongfully convicted of murder after she had served 43 years in prison for the murder of Patricia Jeschke in St. Joseph. The defendant had been interrogated while being treated with antipsychotic drugs that had triggered involuntary muscle spasms. Evidence pointing to Michael Holman, a St. Joseph police officer, had been disregarded. Police had failed to share key evidence pointing to their fellow officer. It turned out that the defendant was 100 miles away, at her parents’ home. She must now be released in 30 days unless prosecutors decide to try her. The Missouri Attorney General’s Office under Andrew Bailey is fighting her release.

On July 9th, the US Department of Justice seized 968 social media accounts and two domain names it said was used by Russia Today, a Russian government news network, to spread disinformation in the US and abroad. Twitter suspended other bot accounts for violations of terms of service. The bot accounts allegedly spread propaganda to further the aims of the Russian government.

Charges listed are merely allegations. Evidence in support of the charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty it is to determine guilt or innocence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. 




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