Michael McCartyA St. Joe man was sentenced to four years in prison for a birthday celebration behind the wheel that landed him in jail for DWI.
Police say Michael McCarty was reported by witnesses to be swerving between lanes, stopping in traffic and “…appearing to pass out several times” along Lovers Lane at about 10 am May 10. Officer Jeremy Ellis said in court documents that McCarty’s van was located at Lovers Lane and E. Colony Square, where it was parked on the wrong side of the street in the traffic lane.
In the back, Ellis said he found McCarty passed out with the keys in his hands. A half-empty, half-gallon bottle of vodka was also found. McCarty admitted driving, and told the officer “…he just wanted to drive around and get wasted for his birthday,” according to a court statement.
On Friday, McCarty pleaded guilty to a class-e felony count of DWI as a chronic offender. Prosecutors listed three prior DWI convictions in Missouri, and said McCarty was on probation for a fourth DWI in Oklahoma.
Circuit Judge Patrick Robb followed the plea agreement and sentenced McCarty to four years in the Dept. of Corrections.
Linford JohnsonProsecutors say a statutory rape suspect was told several times that his victim was 14 years old, but committed the crime anyway. Officials say Linford Johnson has a severe intellectual disability. He was committed to the Missouri Dept. of Mental Health in November and criminal proceedings were suspended.
Those proceedings resumed Friday when Johnson pleaded guilty to a class-c felony charge statutory rape for the incident nearly two years ago.
Johnson, 26, was released from the Buchanan County Jail Friday, after a judge sentenced him to one year in prison and gave him credit for the two years he’s been in custody.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kate Schaefer told the judge that the victim and her family have moved on. Schaefer said they were made aware of plea agreement, in which Schaefer recommended Johnson be sentenced to time served. She said nearly two years in custody is an appropriate disposition of the case. The maximum punishment for the crime would have been seven years.
Circuit Judge Patrick Robb also notified Johnson that he must now register as a sex offender, and that he is now subject to deportation. Officials say the defendant is a legal resident but not a citizen of the United States. It would be up to federal immigration officials to decide whether to take further action in the case.
Travis Wylie SwensonA St. Joseph man who stole a vehicle and then led law officers on a high-speed pursuit through three counties was sentenced Friday to four years in prison.
Tyler Wylie Swenson pleaded guilty before Circuit Judge Patrick Robb to one count of 1st degree tampering with a motor vehicle. He admitted taking the Chevy Blazer from a St. Joseph woman’s residence on June 7. A state trooper spotted the stolen vehicle just before 11 pm along Missouri Highway Six.
In court documents, Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper K. Jeffers said he caught up with the vehicle, but the driver accelerated to about 80 miles-per-hour. Jeffers said the pursuit continued from Buchanan into Dekalb and Clinton counties, before the vehicle crashed along Keller Road near 348th Street in Clinton County.
Swenson was injured in the crash. He was identified by fingerprint analysis at the hospital. The Blazer was a total loss.
Swenson entered a guilty plea Friday. Judge Robb followed the recommendation of prosecutors and sentenced Swenson to four years in prison. He also ordered the defendant to repay the owner $3,250 for the loss of the vehicle.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Missouri law enforcement officials have announced they will conduct a speed enforcement blitz throughout the state from July 21-July 23, 2017.
According to a news release, “Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine” is an intensified effort to crack down on speeding. Similar crackdown efforts are occurring across the region in Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Up and down the highways and roadways of these states in the country’s midsection, officers will be ticketing anyone exceeding the speed limit.
“Speeding translates to death on our roadways. It greatly reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object, or an unexpected curve,” said Susan DeCourcy, Regional Administrator NHTSA Region 7. “Speeding drivers put themselves, their passengers and other drivers at tremendous risk. All drivers need to be on alert – the posted speed limit is the law. When it comes to speeding, no more warnings and no more excuses – Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine.”
In 2015, speeding was a contributing factor in 27 percent of all fatal crashes in the U.S. and more than 9,500 lives were lost in such crashes, according to the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
In Missouri during 2015, there were 869 total traffic fatalities with 310 of them (36%) speeding related.
“During the “Obey the Sign or Pay the Fine” blitz in Missouri, officers will intensify enforcement of posted speed limits in Missouri. We’ll stop and ticket anyone caught speeding—especially on Interstates 70, 44, 55, 35, where most of our speed-related crashes occur,” said Colonel Sandra Karsten of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
In 2015, 17 percent of all speeding-related traffic fatalities occurred on local roads — where the posted speed limits were 55 miles per hour or under. According to NHTSA, a crash on a road with a speed limit of 65 mph or greater is more than twice as likely to result in a fatality than a crash on a road with a speed limit of 45 or 50 mph and nearly five times as likely as a crash on a road with a speed limit of 40 mph or below. About 15 percent of the country’s speeding-related fatalities occur on interstate highways each year.
NHTSA considers a crash speeding-related if the driver was charged with exceeding the posted speed limit or if the driver was driving too fast for conditions at the time.
An Excessive Heat Warning continues for the entire area today and Saturday for temperatures in the upper 90s and heat index values as high as 110. Some heat relief will arrive with a cold front Saturday evening with highs on Sunday expected to be around 90 degrees. A few storms are possible with the front Saturday evening. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Heat index values as high as 109. South southwest wind 6 to 11 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 78. South wind 6 to 11 mph.
Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98. Heat index values as high as 107. South southwest wind 7 to 9 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 73. North wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning.
Sunday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m. Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 86.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 86.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 68.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 90.
Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72.
Lewis Marshall
A 57-year-old Albany, Missouri man appeared in Buchanan County Court Thursday to face the first of at least four criminal cases involving allegations of sexual abuse of children three decades ago.
An investigator for the Missouri State Highway Patrol says so far they’ve identified six victims across Northwest Missouri who say they have been abused by Lewis Marshall. As we reported, Marshall also faces similar charges in Worth and Caldwell counties.
On Thursday, Marshall was bound over for trial in Buchanan County on one count of sodomy and one count of sexual abuse. The victim, now 31 years old, was five and eight years old when the alleged crimes took place. During a preliminary hearing, the victim said Marshall gave him alcohol back in 1990 and later sexually abused him. He described a similar incident three years later. In both cases, the victim said Marshall told him if he told anybody, he’d die.
Associate Judge Keith Marquart certified the case for circuit court and scheduled arraignment July 27 at 8:30 am before Judge Daniel Kellogg.
Special Public Defender Rose Briscoe filed a motion to set bond in the case, but told the judge that the most Marshall would be able to pay would be about $1,000. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kate Schaefer told the judge that bail is either $50,000 or $100,000 in the other three cases filed against Marshall so far. The high bond amounts set in the other cases figured prominently in Judge Marquart’s decision not to set bail in Buchanan County. But he also pointed out there has been no evidence presented to him that the defendant is not a danger to the community. Marquart rejected the bond motion.
The City of St. Joseph is asking residents to take precaution as an excessive heat warning remains in effect for the area until 8 p.m. Saturday.
The health department is reminding the public to take extra precautions in these extreme conditions. Temperature highs will hover from the mid to upper 90s. Lows will only drop to the middle to upper 70s. The heat index will make it feel more like 105° to 110° each afternoon through Saturday. Prolonged exposure to heat and humidity can lead to heat-related illness.
Each year, communities establish cooling sites. You can locate those cooling sites by
dialing 2-1-1. In St. Joseph, the 2017 cooling sites are:
• Bartlett Center, 409 South 18th Street, 816-233-8201, Mon-Fri 6:00am to
6:00pm
• Downtown Public Library, 927 Felix Street, 816-232-4038, Mon – Wed 9:00am to
8:00pm; Thu 9:00am to 6:00pm; Fri and Sat 9:00am to 5:00pm
• Carnegie Library, 316 Massachusetts, 816-238-0526, Mon 1:00pm to 5:00pm,
Tue and Thu 11:00am to 7:00pm; Wed, Fri and Sat 10:00am to 6:00pm
• Washington Park Library, 1821 N. Third Street, 816-232-2052, Mon, Wed and Fri
9:00am to 5:00pm, Tue and Thu 12:00pm (noon) to 8:00pm, Sat 1:00 to
5:00pm
• Rolling Hills Library, 1912 N Belt Hwy, 816-232-5479, Mon – Thu 9:00am to
9:00pm; Fri and Sat 9:00am to 6:00pm; Sun 1:00pm to 5:00pm
• East Hills Library, 502 N Woodbine Road, 816-236-2136, Mon – Thu 9:00am to
9:00pm; Fri – Sat 9:00am to 5:00pm; Sun 11:00am to 3:00pm
The AFL-CIO Community Services has a wait list for fans. They can be reached at 816-364-1131.
People are encouraged to drink plenty of non-carbonated and non-alcoholic fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check on relatives and neighbors to ensure their safety. Using a fan without another cooling source may not keep a person cool enough to prevent heat related illness.
The City suggests: taking extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water. Make sure animals have plenty of water and shade.
Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances. This is especially true during warm or hot weather when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes
A young father who allegedly threatened police after learning of the death of his young child will be allowed to post bail as he awaits court hearings on drug charges. Franklin Skeen Jr., 17, is charged with possession of a controlled substance after police said they seized “Xanax bars” from his home in June.
That was after Skeen’s young baby died from allegedly co-sleeping with the parents. The mother, Kyla Watson is free on bond, awaiting a preliminary hearing next month on child-endangerment charges.
On the day the baby died, Skeen allegedly forced his way back into his house, cursing at officers. When he emerged he had what later turned out to be a bb gun. A search of the home also turned up other weapons, including a dismantled AK-47 found in a baby crib that prosecutors said may have never been used.
Skeen has been held without bail for over a month after a judge ruled he was a danger to the community. During an arraignment hearing Thursday, Skeen’s lawyer Jason Soper asked Circuit Judge Daniel Kellogg to set bond. Soper said the threats are understandable coming so soon after the death of Skeen’s child.
Judge Kellogg agreed to set bond at $50,000. He ordered Skeen to have no contact with the mother, or any children.
Through Soper, Skeen waived formal reading of the complaint. Judge Kellogg scheduled the matter for a trial-setting docket August 10 at 9:30 am.
The Bartlett Center in St. Joseph is seeking a new executive director after current director, Betty Hellerich announced plans to retire.
According to a news release, Hellerich as serviced in the position for more than 15 years after retiring as an elementary educator.
A retirement reception will take place at the Bartlett Center, 409 S. 18th Street, Thursday, August 3, from 4:30 – 6 p.m.
“I have loved this job and been blessed to work with a wonderful team positively impacting the youth of our community.” Hellerich said. “After all these years, my passion is unwavering, and it is with mixed emotions, but I have decided to retire my position.
The Bartlett Center stated it focuses on the needs of the St. Joseph community surrounding: child care, youth programs, and senior support.
“As community needs evolve, so must our services,” said Board President LaDawndra Robbs. “To honor Betty’s tenure at the Bartlett Center, we are responsibly preparing for the next chapter — for change, continued improvement, and opening our doors once again to the community.”
The board of directors is accepting applications for executive director, and youth director. Any interested candidates should submit a resume to [email protected] .
Two people were killed in a two vehicle crash Wednesday in Brown County, Kansas.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol crash report, 52-year-old Michael Patrick James of Horton was driving a Chevy Suburban north on U.S. 73 about four miles south of U.S. 36 around 1:45 Wednesday afternoon. The vehicle crossed the center line and struck a Toyota Sienna being driven south by 80-year-old Delywn A. Boldt of Upland, Nebraska. James and a passenger in the Sienna, 80-year-old Patricia Boldt, of Upland, Nebraska, were killed in the crash.
The driver of the Sienna was transported to KU Med. Two 15-year-old passengers in the Sienna were also transported to hospitals.
