An additional one to two plus inches of rain (locally higher amounts possible) is expected for locations along and south of U.S. Hwy 24. Much of the rain will fall this morning through midday today, although chances will linger through at least tomorrow morning. Click here for the latest river forecasts and other pertinent information. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: A slight chance of showers after 11 a.m. Cloudy, with a high near 56. East wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42. East northeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light and variable.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 66. North wind 7 to 12 mph increasing to 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45. North wind 7 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 69. North wind 7 to 11 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 76.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 50.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 75.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 60.
A Nebraska man appeared before a federal magistrate in Nebraska Tuesday on charges stemming from an alleged effort to break one man out of jail, and arrest the local sheriff and a judge.
Federal investigators say the two officials were to have been taken to Canada to face criminal charges in the courts of a non-existent nation in British Columbia.
Acting U.S. Attorney Robert C. Stuart said Anthony Todd Weberka, 54, of Arapahoe, Nebraska was charged in a federal indictment with Misprision of a Felony. The indictment unsealed this week alleges that Weverka knew of the plot and failed to disclose the information to authorities. He faces up to three years in federal prison, a $250,000 fine or both, Stuart said.
According to the indictment, Weverka served as the President of the Arapahoe Airport Board. In that capacity, he met an individual, referred to in the indictment as “M.P.”, who flew a plane to the airport and asked to spend the night on the premises. The man was a fugitive from justice after having failed to appear for trial on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm in Tipton County, Tennessee. The indictment also alleges the man represented himself to be an ambassador and associate chief justice of the Chilcotin Nation in British Columbia, Canada. The man was arrested at the airport by federal, state and local law enforcement authorities.
Following his arrest, M.P. was transported to the Furnas County Jail in Beaver City, Nebraska, where he was held pending extradition to the State of Tennessee. Another individual, referred to as “S.H.” in the indictment, allegedly held herself out as the Chief Justice of the Universal Supreme Court of the Tshilhqot’in Nation, a self-proclaimed body purporting to represent the “country” of Chilcotin. Authorities say she issued orders demanding the release of M.P., and when her court “orders” were ignored, the indictment alleges she contacted a bounty hunter in New Orleans, Louisiana. Stuart said she offered to pay to have the bounty hunter break M.P. out of jail, arrest the Sheriff of Furnas County and the presiding Judge in Tipton County, Tennessee, and transport all of them to Canada where the Sheriff and Judge would face purported criminal charges.
The indictment alleges Weverka learned of the plot to take the Sheriff of Furnas County into custody and did not immediately disclose the same to law enforcement authorities. It further alleges Weverka spoke repeatedly with the woman in Canada holding herself out as the Chief Justice of the USCTN and, further, that he supplied the home address of the Sheriff to her. After learning of the plot, it is alleged Weverka warned the Sheriff that his life might be in danger but did not disclose his full knowledge of the planned abduction. The indictment alleges Weverka committed the crime of Misprision of Felony by concealing the crime through false statements, omissions of material facts and continuing to provide assistance to those whom he believed were involved.
In a separate indictment, Michael Wayne Parsons, age 55 of Arlington, Tennessee, is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Specifically, it alleges Parsons, after conviction of the felony offense of aggravated assault on November 23, 2009, in the Circuit Court of Tipton County, Tennessee, was located in Nebraska on January 11, 2017, while in possession of a Rock River 5.56 LAR-15 assault rifle and 637 rounds of ammunition. The charge carries a possible penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine or both. Parsons is currently in custody in the State of Tennessee awaiting trial of other charges.
A man suspected of stealing a car in south St. Joe and then leading authorities on a high speed chase early Sunday appeared in court Tuesday.
Bryson Anthony McCray was charged with stealing and resisting arrest after the case Sunday morning that ended near St. Joseph Ave. and Highland. Online court records indicate McCray pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of vehicle tampering just two months ago.
On March 1, he received a suspended, 60-day sentence and was placed on probation. Prosecutors filed a motion on Tuesday to revoke that probation.
A detective said in court documents that McCray stole a Red Grand Am early Sunday morning by punching a man in the face and then pointing a firearm and ordering others out of the vehicle. The vehicle was spotted later in Atchison, Kansas, and a pursuit by authorities crossed back into Missouri and up U.S. Highway 59 and I-229 to St. Joseph Ave. Police said they deployed spike sticks and the suspect stopped near Highland. After a brief standoff, McCray was arrested.
In court on Tuesday, Associate Circuit Judge Rebecca Spencer scheduled the case for the prelminary hearing docket May 18. McCray remains in custody, unable to post $25,000 cash bail.
A 53-year-old St. Joseph man remains behind bars after his first court appearance on charges of beating his roommate with a golf club.
Levester Harvey is being held without bail on a class-e felony count of 3rd degree domestic assault.
Investigators say in court documents that Harvey was intoxicated when he and his roommate got into a verbal argument at their apartment on Faraon St. The defendant allegedly walked up behind his roommate and hit him in the head with a golf club, causing serious injuries.
Associate Circuit Judge Rebecca Spencer scheduled the case for the preliminary hearing docket May 11.
Four teens were taken to the hospital Monday evening after a rollover crash on the southwest Parkway.
Sgt. Chris McBane said a red Pontiac Grand Am was traveling over the posted speed limit southbound on the Parkway when the driver lost control of the vehicle around the curve. The vehicle went off the west side of the road, rolled over and hit a tree. McBane said four people, all juveniles were transported to Mosaic Life Care for treatment of injuries ranging from minor to moderate.
According to an alert issued by the St. Joseph Police Department, the parkway was shut down in the area of Bryce Rd. from shortly before 8 p.m. to shortly before 10 p.m.
McBane said the driver will be issued a ticket for careless driving.
The main concern over the next day or two will be the potential for more rain and additional flooding. Despite a pleasant day today with highs in the upper 60s, clouds will be on the increase this afternoon. Rain is expected to develop over the area tonight and continue through Wednesday with 1 to 2 inches expected across our area south of Interstate 70 (2 to 4 inches are expected further south over southern Missouri). This will aggravate already ongoing flooding and may lead to additional flooding along area rivers, creeks, and streams. A flood warning is already in place across much of central Missouri and will remain in effect until flooding subsides. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
Today: Increasing clouds, with a high near 68. West northwest wind 6 to 13 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. Light and variable wind.
Wednesday: A chance of showers, mainly before 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 58. East wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Northeast wind 5 to 9 mph becoming north northwest after midnight.
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66. North wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 12 to 17 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph.
Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 67.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 46.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 74.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 51.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 72.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Monday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Christopher Rowles
A St. Joe man accused of beating up a pregnant woman pleaded guilty Monday.
Christopher Rowles, 29, was charged with 2nd-degree domestic assault, a class-d felony. He told the judge he argued with the victim after being up all night on drugs and said she’d found his stash. He admitted punching and choking her. The woman was five months pregnant at the time of the assault.
Rowles faces up to a maximum of seven years in prison when he’s sentenced June 12. Circuit Judge Patrick Robb ordered a sentence assessment report, as well as an assessment for the court’s domestic violence program.
Judge Robb denied a request to reduce the defendant’s bond, pointing out that Rowles violated the conditions of his bond earlier when witnesses said he had made contact with the victim. (read more here) Bail is currently set at $25,000 cash.
A St. Joseph man accused of beating his grandmother to death with her own hammer and then stealing her vehicle is due in court next month. A judge on Monday approved a delay in the case of Michael Courter, who is undergoing a mental-health examination.
Criminal proceedings were suspended and Courter was committed to the Missouri Dept. of Mental Health on Oct. 31, 2016. Bail was set at $25,000 cash as officials awaited his commitment report. That report is expected soon, and in a brief hearing Monday, Circuit Judge Patrick Robb scheduled a trial-setting June 2.
As we reported, Courter is charged with second-degree murder and vehicle tampering for the death of his grandmother Clyda Spurgeon. The woman was found dead at her home at 108 E. Highland Ave on April 29, 2016. In court documents officials said that sometime between 8 p.m. April 28 and 8 a.m. April 29 Courter allegedly hit Spurgeon repeatedly with a hammer he borrowed from her.
Courter, 41, was arrested in the stolen vehicle in Hobart, Indiana about 12.5 hours after the incident, according to court documents. At that time, the murder had not yet been discovered. So the defendant was issued a summons and released.
The murder warrant was served on May 16, 2016, according to online court records.
A probable cause affidavit says “the defendant is a violent and brutal man who without cause or provocation violently killed the victim.”
“He previously assaulted his mother and received a felony conviction,” according to the affidavit. “Witnesses interviewed are afraid of the defendant.”
(Monday 1:30 p.m. update) – Authorities believe a man who jumped into the Grand River over the weekend was spotted in Chillicothe.
The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office said a fugitive investigation is underway for Brian Vincent Bowman, 41 of Brookfield. Sheriff Steve Cox said Bowman is wanted in Livingston County on a felony arrest warrant from January 2016 for alleged felony resisting arrest. Bowman is also the same person who allegedly fled from a Livingston County deputy on April 29 and jumped off the 36 river bridge into the Grand River.
Currently, investigators with the sheriff’s office, Chillicothe Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol are searching for Bowman who is being considered a dangerous person.
“Investigation has since revealed a credible sighting of Mr. Bowman in Chillicothe. Officers from all 3 agencies surrounded a residence in Chillicothe and ultimately searched the home but did not locate Bowman,” Cox said. “Do not approach Bowman but instead call your nearest law enforcement agency if you have information or 911.”
Cox said they suspect Bowman may be hiding in the Chillicothe/Brookfield area and may also try presenting himself as a Hispanic man.
“Mr. Bowman is considered a dangerous person and anyone who assists Mr. Bowman may face serious felony charge(s),” Cox said.
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(Monday 10 a.m. update) – Little new information has been found after a man jumped into the Grand River near Chillicothe over the weekend in an attempt to escape from a deputy’s pursuit.
According to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office additional search of the area has not revealed any additional evidence or sightings. The Grand River is now ¾ bank full and it may be some time before any additional water search can take place.
Sheriff Steve Cox said the Missouri State Highway Patrol officer is not available for the underwater sonar use on the Grand River as he has been sent to southwest Missouri to assist with multiple water rescues there.
The female driver of the vehicle on April 29 was arrested at the scene and has since been charged in Livingston County Associate Circuit Court. Arrested was Wanita J. Bowman, 40, Chillicothe, for alleged Possession of Methamphetamine and Resisting/Interfering with Arrest for a Felony. Ms. Bowman remains in the Daviess Dekalb County Regional Jail in lieu of $20,000 bond.
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(Sunday) – A suspect being pursued by a sheriff’s deputy jumped into the Grand River near Chillicothe Saturday.
Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox said the deputy tried to stop a vehicle on U.S. Highway 36 at about 3:10 p.m. Saturday. The deputy believed a man in the vehicle was wanted on warrants.
Cox said the vehicle stopped once near 65 Highway and the suspect got out of the vehicle. The deputy said the man refused to comply with his requests, and deployed a taser, with no noticeable reaction from the suspect.
Cox says the figitive got back in the vehicle, which continued westbound to the Grand River Bridge.
“The fugitive exited the car, put on a back pack, and jumped off the bridge into the river,” Cox said.
Despite search efforts by the sheriff’s office, Chillicothe Police, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Chillicothe Department of Emergency Services, and the Missouri Dept. of Conservation, the suspect had not been found by 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Cox says they found no evidence the man made it out of the water.
The sheriff said the river was low, an estimated eight feet in depth where the suspect jumped in. He says the water was cold. The temperature was in the 40s with strong winds at the time, he said.
Cox says the driver of the car was arrested for investigation of possession of meth, resisting arrest and hindering prosecution.
In a news release, Sheriff Cox said he would update the media in a follow-up news release on Monday.
An additional one to two plus inches of rain (locally higher amounts possible) is expected for locations along and south of U.S. Hwy 24. Much of the rain will fall this morning through midday today, although chances will linger through at least tomorrow morning. Click here for the latest river forecasts and other pertinent information. Here’s the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service:
