Violent Crime

Bloomfield unveils new monument (05/01/08)
Local officials unveiled a new monument on the lawn of the Stoddard County Courthouse Monday afternoon. The monument, entitled 'The Civil War in Bloomfield,' now stands on the southwest corner of the courthouse lawn. Nearly 75 people came out for the dedication...

Dexter man admits to child molestation charges (04/25/08)
A 35-year-old Dexter man is in Stoddard County Jail today, charged in connection with molesting a three-year-old girl. Chris Abernathy has admitted to molestation allegations, according to the Dexter Police Department. In a report from Detective Lt. Trevor Pulley, Abernathy admitted to the charges of molestation during an interview on Wednesday...

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...

Investigation results in methamphetamine lab bust in Puxico (03/30/08)
A recent investigation in Stoddard County has resulted in the arrests of two people for manufacturing methamphetamine. Arrested were Tina L. Hayden and Dennis J. Hayden of Puxico. Both are currently facing charges of the Class A felony of manufacturing methamphetamine, Class A felony of attempted manufacture of methamphetamine, Class C felony of possession of a precursor to the manufacture of methamphetamine, Class D felony of possession drug paraphernalia, Class C felony of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). ...

High-speed chase ends in one arrest (03/25/08)
A high-speed chase involving a Bell City deputy and an Advance deputy ended near the small community of Ardeola yesterday afternoon with one man taken into custody. Shawn Yount, 37, of Bell City, was arrested and placed in the Stoddard County jail after he led officers on a chase through a rural area east of Highway 25 near the area of Bell City and Highway 91...

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...