Courthouse News for April 10th, 2019

On April 2nd, the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested James Kerwin (52) of Grant City in Worth County on a charge of No Driver’s License.

On April 2nd, the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested John Worland (45) of Cameron in Harrison County on a charge of DWI.

The Taylor County Sheriff’s Office arrested multiple suspects in an ongoing narcotics distribution investigation. Wesley Oliphant, 22, of Lenox was arrested on April 3, 2019 in the 400 block of North Brooks Street in Lenox. He was wanted on an active Taylor County Warrant for Controlled Substance Violations – Delivery of a Controlled Substance, a Class D Felony. Oliphant is being held at the Taylor County Sheriff's Office without bond pending an appearance before the Magistrate. Brandon Brown, 24, of Lenox was arrested on April 3, 2019 in the 600 block of East Ohio Street in Lenox. He was wanted on an active Taylor County Warrant for two counts of Controlled Substance Violations – Delivery of a Controlled Substance, a Class D Felony. Brown is being held at the Taylor County Sheriff's Office without bond pending an appearance before the Magistrate.

On April 3rd, Harrison County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer filed charges against Nicholas Cox (33) of Conception Junction alleging Statutory Rape (Under 12 Years Old, Felony). Bond was set at $100,000, cash only.

On April 3rd, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against Jesse Denbow (22) of St. Joseph alleging Receiving Stolen Property (Felony), Possession of Controlled Substance (Felony), and Resisting Arrest by Fleeing, Creating Substantial Risk of Serious Injury or Death (Felony). Bond was set at $30,000, Cash or Corporate Surety.

On April 3rd, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against David Atkison (55) of Stanberry alleging Failure to Signal, DWI, No Seat Belt, and Consumption of Alcohol White Driving.

On April 3rd, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against Marshall Pearcy (22) of Maryville alleging Failure to Signal and Possession of Marijuana.

On April 3rd, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against Morgan MaGee (24) of McFall alleging Speeding (20-25 mph over) and DWI.

On April 3rd, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against Ronald Angle (28) of Stanberry alleging No Tail Lamps, No Valid License (2nd), Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On April 3rd, Nodaway County Prosecutor Robert Rice filed charges against Betty Fanning (36) of St. Joseph alleging Trafficking Drugs (Felony), Possession of Controlled Substance (Felony), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Felony). Bond was set at $25,000, cash or corporate surety with defendant given leave to post 10% cash.

On April 3rd, Nodaway County Prosecutor Robert Rice filed charges against Andre Murphy (26) of Leavenworth (KS) alleging Trafficking Drugs (Felony). Bond was set at $20,000, cash or corporate surety with defendant given leave to post 10% cash.

On April 4th, Harrison County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer filed charges against Kierstyn Gail (20) of Bethany alleging Domestic Assault (Felony).

On April 4th, Gentry County Prosecutor Jessica Jones filed charges against Lance Carr (59) of Bethany alleging Speeding, Failure to Signal, and DWI.

On April 4th, Worth County Prosecutor Janet Wake Larison filed charges against Susan Walters (51) of Blockton alleging Tampering with Evidence (Felony), Escape from Custody (Felony), Possession of Marijuana (Prior), and two counts Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (Prior).

On April 4th, Nodaway County Prosecutor Robert Rice filed charges against Jonathon Chronister (22) of Kansas City alleging No Insurance.

On April 4th, Nodaway County Prosecutor Robert Rice filed charges against Jessica Germann (27) of Ravenwood alleging No Insurance.

On April 4th, Nodaway County Prosecutor Robert Rice filed charges against Atanasio Harris-Ham (22) of Olathe (KS) alleging No Insurance and Careless & Imprudent Driving (Accident).

On April 4th, Nodaway County Prosecutor Robert Rice filed charges against Andrew Park (29) of Kansas City alleging No Insurance.

On April 4th, Nodaway County Prosecutor Robert Rice filed charges against Andrew Slaughter (22) of Bethany alleging No Insurance.

On April 4th, Nodaway County Prosecutor Robert Rice filed charges against Kalena Thompson (23) of Kansas City alleging No Insurance.

On April 4th, Nodaway County Prosecutor Robert Rice filed charges against Dawn Stephens (45) of Maryville alleging No Insurance.

On April 4, 2019, Maryville Police and the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant for illegal drugs on a residence located at 509 East 3rd Street in Maryville. Over 40 grams of what field tested positive for methamphetamine, scales, paraphernalia, and cash was seized. The Nodaway County Prosecutor has charged Kristen Lee O’Neal, age 63, of 509 E 3rd, with two counts of Distribution of a controlled substance within a protected zone, both class A felonies. The residence, where O’Neal is alleged to have sold methamphetamine, was within 2000 feet of Eugene Field Elementary School (a protected zone). This investigation was a cooperative effort between Maryville Police and the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office conducting covert buys of methamphetamine from O’Neal. O'Neal is being held in the Nodaway County Jail on a $50,000.00 bond.

On April 5th, Harrison County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer filed charges against Sarah Downs (37) of Amazonia (37) alleging two counts Burglary (Felony) and two counts Stealing (Felony).

On April 5th, Harrison County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer filed charges against Roy Proctor (47) of Amazonia (MO) alleging two counts Burglary (Felony) and two counts Stealing (Felony).

On April 5th, Harrison County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer filed charges against Joshua Grippando (38) of St. Joseph alleging two counts Burglary (Felony) and two counts Stealing (Felony).

On April 5th, Nodaway County Prosecutor Robert Rice filed charges against Bryan Pitts (32) of Warsaw (MO) alleging Burglary (Felony), Trespass, Stealing, Property Damage, two counts Stalking (one Felony), and Resisting Arrest.

On April 5th, Special Prosecutor David Baird filed charges against Josh Pankau (43) of Maryville in Nodaway County alleging DWI (Chronic, Felony).

Following a lengthy investigation involving several victims, the forensic review of digital media, and the appointment of a special prosecutor, the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant today for an apartment in Maryville for additional digital media. The special prosecutor has charged Billy Joe Koch, age 40, of Maryville, with 8 counts of Child Molestation-1st Degree, and Possession of Child Pornography. These charges are class B Felonies. Koch was arrested late in the afternoon on April 5th on the warrant. He is currently being held on a $100,000.00 bond with the condition of GPS monitoring.

 On April 6, 2019 at 11:04 p.m. Worth County Missouri requested assistance from Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office with a vehicle pursuit that had entered Ringgold County on Highway 169 south of Redding, Iowa. Taylor County Sheriff’s Office was also requested to assist with the pursuit. The Adam’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist as well. The pursuit ended one mile north of Delphos, Iowa at the intersection of 255th Street and 170th Avenue. The defendant, A J Miller age 42 of Mount Ayr, Iowa, was taken into custody following a brief foot chase after entering the ditch at the above location. K9 Heky was deployed and alerted to a substance (methamphetamine) found in the mud where the, defendant was taken into custody. K9 Heky was also deployed for a K9 sniff of the vehicle where he also alerted verifying the presence of drug paraphernalia. Miller was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver (Felony), Failure to Affix Drug Tax Stamp (Felony), and Resisting Arrest (Felony). He is being held on no bond until seen by a magistrate.
Mary Giles, 49, of Lenox, was arrested on April 8, 2019, in the 400 block of West Michigan Street in Lenox. She was charged with Driving While License Revoked. She was additionally cited for failure to update her address on her driver's license. Giles is being held at the Taylor County Sheriff's Office on $1,000 bond.

The Ringgold County Sheriff’s Department says that on April 8th, Raymond Russell was traveling west on Hwy 2 in Mount Ayr in a 1969 Lincoln Continental when a vehicle started to turn into Subway. Russell avoided contact with the vehicle by swerving into the parking lot of Subway, striking a parked 2018 Toyota Highlander owned by Deborah Ann Creveling of Ellston, Iowa.

On April 9th, Harrison County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer filed charges against Rebecca Lewis (20) of Stanberry alleging Passing a Bad Check.

On April 9th, Harrison County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer filed charges against Alyssa Taylor (31) of Bethany alleging Passing a Bad Check.

On April 9th, Harrison County Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer filed charges against Casey Burnett (28) of Cameron alleging Passing a Bad Check.

Charges listed are mere 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.

Buggy Struck by Teen; Amish Man Lifeflighted

An Amish man was seriously injured after his buggy was struck by a teen driver near Stanberry Sunday evening at around 8 pm. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that a 2016 Ford Fusion driven by Kiera Greer (18) of Stanberry and a horse drawn buggy driven by Eli Schrock (28) of Stanberry were westbound on 136 one mile west of Stanberry. The Fusion struck the buggy in the rear, ejecting Schrock from the buggy. Schrock was seriously injured and was taken to Northwest Medical Center. He was subsequently lifeflighted to North Kansas City Hospital. Greer was not injured in the accident. She was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident.

Ten Year Old Boy Seriously Injured in Car/ATV Wreck

A ten year old boy was seriously injured in a car/ATV wreck near King City Sunday evening at around 7:15 pm. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that a 2001 Polaris Scrambler ATV driven by John Rigney (10) of Albany turned west from a field entrance in front of a 2004 Chevy Malibu driven by James Davis (41) of King City. Rigney was ejected from the ATV and received serious injuries. He was taken to Mosaic Life Care. Davis was not injured in the accident.

One Injured in Wreck Near Cainsville

One person was injured in a wreck near Cainsville Saturday evening. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that a 2018 Can Am Maverick Side by Side Utility Vehicle driven by Hunter Kirk (16) of Cainsville was on Route N one mile west of Cainsville at around 5:15 that evening. The vehicle pulled into a farm field to turn around and overturned. Kirk was not injured; he was wearing a safety device. A passenger, Clay Binkley (20) of Lamoni, received moderate injuries and was taken to Harrison County Community Hospital. He was not wearing a safety device.

One Injured in Wreck Near Stanberry

One person was injured in a wreck two miles northeast of Stanberry at around 3:30 pm Friday. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports that a 2016 Honda CRV driven by Ramona Crouse (48) of Stanberry and a 2009 Pontiac G8 driven by Haley Van Horn (19) of Stanberry were both eastbound on 136 when the Pontiac yielded for another vehicle and the Honda struck the Pontiac in the rear. They both came to rest in the eastbound driving lane facing east. Crouse received moderate injuries in the accident. Van Horn was not injured in the wreck. Both were wearing seat belts at the time of the accident.

Obituary -- Virginia Hale 1923-2019

Virginia L. Hale, 95, Bethany, MO (formerly of Blythdale, MO) passed away Saturday, April 6, 2019 at a Bethany, MO hospital.

She was born October 13, 1923 in Harrison County, Missouri the daughter of Loid Ernest and Iva Pearl (Hubbard) Huitt.

On November 1, 1941, she married Lee Roy Hale in Bethany, MO. He preceded her in death on March 21, 2015.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; 2 sons, Roger D. Hale and Anthony L. Hale; 2 sisters, Thelma Johnston and Hazel Ury and 3 brothers, Gene Huitt, Paul Huitt and Bill Huitt.

Survivors include her 6 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and a set of twin great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, April 11 at Roberson Funeral Home, Eagleville, MO. Burial will follow in the Masonic Cemetery, Eagleville, MO. The family will receive friends from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home where friends may call after 9:00 a.m. Thursday. Memorials may be made to the Masonic Cemetery in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. box 46, Eagleville, MO 64442. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.

Mustangs Recover from Early Deficit as Logan Keho Pitches Them to Victory

North Nodaway was in a 4-1 hole against West Nodaway in a game which everything was going wrong. The Rockets, who were supposedly in rebuilding mode, were out to a great start, and their best pitcher, Parker Ogle, was hurling for them and seemingly in control. But then North Nodaway chipped away, regained the lead in the fourth, and pulled away for a 14-4 win after six innings in a game they somehow got in despite rain that fell during the middle innings.

Coach Jake Shipman had a long heart to heart talk after the Rocket third, in which North Nodaway dodged a bullet. “We were shellshocked, and we just had to fix it,” he said. “But then our bats came alive, and Logan Keho settled down and threw strikes.”

It looked like North Nodaway would run themselves out of some good innings in the second and third. They got one back in the second when Jordan Jenkins doubled, but Cody Cline was gunned down at the plate as North Nodaway’s deficit was 4-2. West Nodaway had a chance to take advantage when Mason Chitwood doubled over everyone’s heads in dead center in the third with two outs, and Hunter Dawson followed with a walk. But Will Cordell popped out to Andrew Blackford at second for the third out.

North Nodaway got another run back in the third inning when Ryan Riley reached on a throwing error by the third baseman and Arron Coleman scored to make it 4-3. But he was later picked off at third to end the inning.

But then Logan Keho, who started off strong against DeKalb, but then tired early, did the exact opposite against West Nodaway; he started off slowly against the Rockets, but got stronger as the game progressed. He retired West Nodaway in order in the fourth, and North Nodaway rallied to get four to take the lead.

Andrew Blackford walked and North Nodaway’s #9 batter, Cody Cline, was up next against Ogle. He fouled off two different pitches with two strikes on him, got back to 3-2, and reached on second baseman Zayla Carlson’s error as she bobbled it. Blackford and Cline went to second and third on a wild pitch. North Nodaway’s best hitter, Jordan Jenkins, came up, but he popped out to Hunter Dawson at short. But Tyler Bix picked him up with a solid shot into right field to put North Nodaway in front, and he took second on a wild pitch. Bix took second on a wild pitch, but Karson Oberhauser flied out for North Nodaway’s second out. Arron Coleman was hit by a pitch and Dalton Smyser walked on a 3-2 pitch to keep North Nodaway’s chances alive, and Ryan Riley singled two runs home to make it 7-4.

West Nodaway tried to get right back in it as Dylan Carden singled and stole and Jacob Flint singled Carden to third with one out. The Rockets looked like they were perfectly set up for a big inning with the hard-hitting Mason Chitwood coming up, but as Flint took off for second, catcher Tyler Bix threw hard back to the mound. Carden, on third, took off for home prematurely and was caught off third as Keho threw to Coleman. Coleman made a strong throw home and Bix tagged out Carden; Chitwood popped out to Coleman to end the threat.

That allowed North Nodaway to break open the game as Andrew Blackford reached on a bobble by shortstop Hunter Dawson and Cody Cline and Jordan Jenkins walked to finish Ogle. Dawson came in to pitch for West Nodaway, but plunked Bix to force in a run. Karson Oberhauser singled home two more to make it 10-4 and put Bix on second.

West Nodaway nearly got out of the inning as Arron Coleman got called out on strikes and Dawson successfully picked off Bix at second. But shortstop Parker Ogle dropped the throw, and that was all Bix needed to make it safely to third to keep North Nodaway’s chances alive. Oberhauser took second on the throw to third. That brought up Dalton Smyser, who caught hold of a high pitch and crushed it into center field for a base hit. He was picked off first after taking too big a turn, but two runs scored to make it 12-4 after five.

Keho made it through part of the sixth, when he struck out Hunter Dawson. He walked Will Cordell, who took second on a wild pitch, but came back to strike out James Graham. He gave way to Jordan Jenkins and Grant Adkins greeted him with a screamer that looked like trouble. But it was right at first baseman Ryan Riley, who snagged it to end the inning.

Hunter Dawson got Logan Keho down in the count 2-2 and threw a perfect breaking ball that could have been strike three on the outside corner. But Keho fought it off and shot it up the middle for a base hit and took second and third on wild pitches. Andrew Blackford struck out and Cody Cline hit what should have been a groundout back to the mound to score Keho, but it turned out the ball had caromed off his foot, and everybody was called back as Keho went back to third and Cline went back to the plate. North Nodaway took advantage of the break as Cline walked and stole second. Jordan Jenkins flied out, too shallow to score a run, but for the second time, Tyler Bix picked him up as he shot a single to center to score both runs to end the game on the ten run rule.