Trials

Victim's family and defendant share their feelings (04/03/08)
BLOOMFIELD -- Emotions from both sides were evident Wednesday morning when the family of Richard "Rick" Watkins faced the man who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with his death. Watkins' widow, Betty Watkins of Dexter, was one of two people to speak on behalf of the victim during Wednesday's sentencing hearing for 41-year-old James E. Jankowski...

Jankowski sentenced to the maximum (04/03/08)
BLOOMFIELD -- For the first time since his admitted criminal negligence caused the death of a local businessman, James E. Jankowski was taken into police custody. Forty-one-year-old Jankowski was taken into custody following the handing down of a 15-year sentence by Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen R. ...

Welty trial pushed back (04/02/08)
A 14-year-old Bloomfield boy accused of murder has again had his trial pushed back. Following a Monday hearing, Judge William Syler decided that the process of jury selection for the case against Owen Welty, originally scheduled for later this month, will now begin in St. Louis on Sept. 19...

Mo. Supreme Court ruling could affect local DWI cases (04/01/08)
A recent Missouri Supreme Court ruling affecting DWI offenses likely won't have as much impact on county cases as some think, according to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn. In early March, the Supreme Court ruled that municipal court cases in which a defendant receives a suspended imposition of sentence can no longer be cited as a prior DWI offense during the trial phase of future DWI proceedings...

Trial postponed for Poplar Bluff attorney accused of selling prescription medications (03/23/08)
BLOOMFIELD -- A Poplar Buff attorney arrested for selling prescription drugs in Stoddard County has had his trial postponed again, according to court personnel. Richard J. Bascom, 42, was set to stand trial March 27-28, before Presiding Circuit Judge Joe Z. Satterfield. However, according to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn that date has been postponed...

Two men placed on probation for separate crimes (03/23/08)
BLOOMFIELD -- Two men charged with separate crimes have been placed on probation for their actions, according to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn. On Wednesday, both 17-year-old Robert Stoner and 19-year-old Robert Watkins appeared before Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen R. Sharp after Sentence Advisory Reports (SAR) were filed by the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole...

Sifford trial pushed back until July (03/21/08)
BLOOMFIELD -- A Stoddard County man accused of felony dog fighting appeared in court again last week to have his case set for trial. The case against 29-year-old Jamie Sifford of Dudley has been re-set for trial before Judge Stephen Sharp on Monday, July 7...