Post Staff – Page 278 – St. Joseph Post Archive

St. Joe man held for allegedly molesting child

Posted on January 13, 2017January 13, 2017

A 37-year-old St. Joseph man is due in court for a first appearance next week on charges of statutory sodomy.

Officials accuse Jack Donahoe of making sexual contact with a girl under the age of 14 for the purpose of sexual gratification. A judge set bail at $50,000 cash. In court documents, Detective Dustin Robinson of the St. Joseph Police Department asserts that Donahoe has failed to appear on a past charge of shoplifting. and was a suspect in other crimes.

In a court affidavit, the detective says “…according to statements, Donahoe was a methampetamine user.”

Donahoe is being held in the Buchanan County Jail awaiting his first appearance on Tuesday, January 17.

Man who torched vehicles at the casino could cut short eight year term with drug treatment

Posted on January 13, 2017January 13, 2017

A St. Joseph man was sentenced to eight years in prison for setting fires to vehicles near the St. Jo Frontier Casino. But a judge says he could get out of jail if he successfully passes a drug treatment program.

As we reported, Michael Simpson pleaded guilty December 8 to two counts of knowingly burning or exploding.

Investigators say the fire department was dispatched to the area on September 30, 2016.

According to the probable cause statement, three vehicles were found burning at 777 Winners Circle Drive and at 4022 Waterworks Road The casino’s security video shows Simpson starting one of the fires.

On Thursday, Judge Dan Kellogg ordered Simpson to serve four years in prison for each count, to be served consecutively. But if Simpson successfully completes drug treatment, Kellogg has offered to set him free after 120 days.

Icing estimates decrease in latest forecast discussion

Posted on January 13, 2017

The National Weather Service has decreased icing expectation totals for the area but said significant icing remains possible through Sunday.

Freezing rain/drizzle will begin to overtake much of the local area beginning this morning from south to north, with increasing chances expected during the afternoon and evening hours. Hazardous roadways may form during the midafternoon to early evening hours Friday. The best icing potential remains during the Saturday night into Sunday morning time period. While total ice accumulations have trended downward, hazardous travel conditions remain possible, along with isolated power outages.
Overview

Friday Morning through Overnight

• Freezing Rain develops Friday morning and spreads north through the afternoon and overnight. • Impacts to the evening rush hour possible. • Heaviest icing generally south of I-70.
Light

Saturday

• Light freezing rain possible over the entire forecast area. • Periodic breaks expected through the day, which should keep icing accumulations low through the period.

Saturday Night into Sunday AM

• Heaviest freezing rain expected through this period. • Significant icing possible!

Summary

• Widespread icing expected this weekend. • Decreased ice totals expected, though hazards remain likely through Sunday. • Significant travel impacts expected across Missouri and eastern Kansas. • Isolated power outages and downed tree limbs possible across the area. • Total ice accumulations of 0.10” – 0.75” possible. • Ice storm warning in effect until Sunday night.
Ice

Child molestation suspect appears in court

Posted on January 13, 2017

A St. Joseph man accused molesting a child several years ago appeared in court Friday.

Shawn Ryan Matthews will apply for a public defender. He’s charged with 1st degree child molestation.

As we reported earlier, Matthews is charged for incidents that occurred in 2013.

The defendant appeared via video before Associate Judge Keith Marquart, who scheduled th case for the preliminary hearing docket January 27.

Matthews remains in the Buchanan County Jail, unable to post $25,000 bail. He is also charged with felony non-support, for allegedly falling more than 12 months behind on his child support.

Judge won’t relax bail for man accused of child sex crime

Posted on January 13, 2017

A judge on Friday refused to relax or reduce the bail set for a St. Joseph man accused of engaging in oral sex with a male child. Rex Sapp is being held on one count of 1st degree statutory sodomy for the incidents, which investigators say happened in May of last year.

In court documents, Police Detective Dustin Robinson said the family allowed Sapp access to the victim after the allegations came to light.

Judge Keith Marquart initially set bail at $50,000 cash. Marquart refused Sapp’s request to reduce the bail or allow a surety bond.

On Friday, during Sapp’s first court appearance, a prosecutor said additional charges are possible in the case involving the same victim, and possibly involving another, younger child.

Sapp remains in custody awaiting his next court appearance. Judge Marquart placed the case on the preliminary hearing docket January 20.

Escape attempt falls flat; “sorry about that, Judge”

Posted on January 13, 2017January 17, 2017

A man in court on charges of vehicle tampering and resisting arrest by fleeing tried to flee from the courtroom on Thursday. Witnesses say the effort, and the suspect, fell flat.

We’ve been following the case of Daniel Embrey since he was charged in October with ramming a stolen car into a Drug Strike Force vehicle. Embrey was in court Thursday for a routine trial-setting, which became anything but routine.

Witnesses say Embrey jumped onto the defense table and then tried to leap over the rail into the gallery. But he caught a foot on the rail and landed on the floor on his face. A total of six deputies then landed with considerable force on Embrey, but one had to deploy a taser beefore they could place him in handcuffs.

Embrey suffered some “rug burn” on his chin, and appeared to be bleeding from the nose when he was ushered out of court.

On his way out he turned to Judge Dan Kellogg and said “sorry about that, Judge.”

The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed a new charge of attempted escape from custody. Embrey is scheduled to appear in court on that charge January 17. The trial setting in the original case will be rescheduled.

Rape suspect denies charge during first appearance

Posted on January 13, 2017

A St. Joseph man charged with rape after allegedly attacking his neighbor is due back in court in two weeks after his first court appearance Friday.

As we reported earlier, prosecutors say Vernail Moore allegedly entered his neighbor’s home on January 10 “unannounced and uninvited,” and had sex with the victim without her consent. In court documents, investigators said the victim has injuries that are consistent with the statement she gave.

Moore, 44, appeared before Associate Circuit Judge Keith Marquart by video conferencing from the Buchanan County Jail. The defendant told the judge he has an alibi, that he was with family members at the time the alleged assault occured. He says he had to kick the victim and others out of a trailer on his property where he says they were doing drugs. The judge urged him to apply for a public defender and discuss the case with his attorney.

Marquart scheduled the case for a preliminary hearing docket January 27.

Eight St. Joseph gang members charged in federal court for murder, robbery, drugs

Posted on January 13, 2017January 13, 2017

(News release) – Eight members of a violent St. Joseph, Mo., gang have been charged in a RICO indictment that alleges they committed murder, five attempted murders, drug trafficking and armed robberies, among other crimes, as part of a criminal enterprise.

Victor Matias-Torres, also known as “Papo” and “King Fenese,” 35, Luis Alfredo Villegas-Rosa, also known as “Puerto Rico,” and “Rico,” 28, his brother, Luis Gabriel Villegas-Rosa, also known as “Conan,” 35, Angel Antonio Martinez-Torres, also known as “Tony,” 37, Angel Rios-Rosa, also known as “Gato,” 30, Jose Morales-Delgado, also known as “Beto,” 32, Luis Calderon-Oliveras, 26, and Ismael Marquez, 29, all of St. Joseph, were charged in a 34-count indictment returned under seal by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017. The indictment was unsealed and made public today upon the arrests and initial court appearances of Luis Gabriel Villegas-Rosa and Morales-Delgado. Several defendants are already in custody in separate state cases.

The racketeering indictment alleges that all eight of the defendants were involved in a conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). According to the indictment, the criminal enterprise, which began in 2010, was led by Matias-Torres, formerly a high-ranking member of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation. Matias-Torres’s gang allegedly engaged in acts of violence, including murder and attempted murder, armed assault, armed robbery, extortion and witness intimidation. The gang allegedly trafficked in heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana.

Although the gang was based in St. Joseph, the indictment says, it also operated in Kansas, Iowa and Massachusetts, among other places, and recruited many of its members and associates from Puerto Rico. (Matias-Torres, the Villegas-Rosa brothers, Martinez-Torres, Rios-Rosa, Morales-Delgado, Calderon-Oliveras and Marquez are all citizens of the United States.)

According to the federal indictment, Matias-Torres directed the illicit operations of the gang and carried out much of the criminal activity himself. Matias-Torres, the indictment says, was a member of the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation, which he joined in Philadelphia, Penn., in 2003, then rose to the leadership position of First Crown for the region. Matias-Torres moved to St. Joseph in 2010. Although members of the St. Joseph gang were often referred to as Latin Kings, the enterprise was not formally affiliated with the Almighty Latin King and Queen Nation.

The indictment alleges that members of the enterprise enriched themselves and funded their operations with the proceeds of drug trafficking, robbery, burglary and extortion. They allegedly targeted rival drug dealers for robbery, not only to obtain the robbery proceeds, but to eliminate and deter competition in the drug trade and, at times, to extort a financial stake in future drug sales from the rival by offering “protection.” Members of the enterprise allegedly also extorted money from innocent victims by offering “protection” from future robberies and acts of violence.

Matias-Torres’s gang operated under a loose code of conduct, the indictment says, which included a requirement that Matias-Torres pre-approve certain criminal activity and that he receive a portion of the proceeds of the illegal activity, whether or not he participated. According to the indictment, members who did not follow the rules or who were perceived as disloyal to the enterprise, were confronted with acts of violence.

Leaders and members of the enterprise, according to the indictment, promoted a climate of fear in the community through repeated waves of gunfire, beatings and destruction of property, among other crimes of violence and intimidation.

Murder of John O. Baynham, Jr.

The indictment alleges that Luis Alfredo Villegas-Rosa murdered John O. Baynham, Jr., on Feb. 5, 2015, in St. Joseph, in aid of racketeering (Villegas-Rosa was convicted of the murder in a separate state case). The indictment also charges Villegas-Rosa with one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and one count of murder resulting from the use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence.

Murder Conspiracy: Attack on Co-Conspirator #3

The indictment alleges that Morales-Delgado, Calderon-Oliveras and Marquez (as well as other members of the gang) conspired to murder an individual identified as “Co-Conspirator #3.” Marquez allegedly fired shots at Co-Conspirator #3 on Sept. 10, 2012, in Estherville, Iowa. Sometime after that, Morales-Delgado met with Matias-Torres. All four men are charged with participating in a conspiracy to murder in aid of racketeering. In addition to the murder conspiracy, Morales-Delgado, Calderon-Oliveras and Marquez are also charged together in one count of assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Murder Conspiracy: Attack on Rival #1

The indictment alleges that Matias-Torres and the Villegas-Rosa brothers, along with other members of the gang, conspired to murder an individual identified as “Rival #1.” Luis Alfredo Villegas-Rosa allegedly fired gunshots at Rival #1 on Sept. 15, 2013, in St. Joseph. In addition to the murder conspiracy, all three men are charged together with one count of assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering and with discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Attempted Murder: Attack on Victim #1

The indictment alleges that Luis Gabriel Villegas-Rosa attempted to murder an individual identified as “Victim #1.” Luis Gabriel Villegas-Rosa is charged with one count of assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Matias-Torres is charged with one count of participating in a conspiracy to tamper with a victim and one count of victim tampering. Matias-Torres and others allegedly threatened Victim #1 in January 2016 to intimidate him into withholding information about the attack from federal law enforcement investigators. Matias-Torres is also charged with one count of being an accessory after the fact for assisting Luis Gabriel Villegas-Rosa in January 2016 in order to hinder and prevent his trial and punishment for the attack.

Attempted Murder: Attack on Rival #2

The indictment alleges that Martinez-Torres attempted to murder an individual identified as “Rival #2” on Sept. 27, 2014, in St. Joseph. Martinez-Torres is charged with one count of assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Attempted Murder: Attack on a Disloyal Member

The indictment alleges that Matias-Torres attempted to murder Angel Antonio Martinez-Torres on April 3, 2016, in St. Joseph in order to maintain his leadership position in the criminal enterprise. Matias-Torres is charged with one count of assault and attempted murder in aid of racketeering and one count of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Drug-Trafficking Conspiracy

The indictment alleges that, since 2011, Matias-Torres, Luis Alfredo Villegas-Rosa, Martinez-Torres, Morales-Delgado and Marquez, along with other members of the enterprise, distributed more than one kilogram of heroin, five kilograms or more of cocaine, 280 grams or more of crack cocaine, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 50 kilograms or more of marijuana. They are charged together in one count of participating in a conspiracy to distribute narcotics. Matias-Torres and Martinez-Torris are each also charged with one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Business Robberies

The indictment alleges that Matias-Torres and other gang members robbed five local businesses.

Matias-Torres and Morales-Delgado are charged with conspiracy and the robbery of Best Way check-cashing establishment at 4915 King Hill Ave., on June 29, 2012. Matias-Torres is also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence in relation to the robbery. Matias-Torres and Calderon-Oliveras are charged with conspiracy and the robbery of Sack-N-Save grocery store at 4913 Lake Ave., on Sept. 28, 2012.

Matias-Torres and Rios-Rosa are charged in three separate conspiracies to rob local check-cashing establishments: Money On Time at 2243 N. Belt Hwy., on Dec. 28, 2012; Check Into Cash at 3302 N. Belt Hwy., on Jan. 19, 2013; and King of Kash at 2308 N. Belt Hwy., on Jan. 25,2013. In addition to the conspiracies, Rios-Rosa is charged with robbing Check Into Cash and King of Kash.

Additional Firearms Charges

Matias-Torres is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Matias-Torres allegedly was in possession of a Jimenez Arm 9mm pistol on Feb. 9, 2016.

Villegas-Rosa is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Villegas-Rosa allegedly was in possession of a Taurus .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol on Feb. 5, 2015.

Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Patrick C. Edwards, David Raskin and Emily A. Orsinger. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the St. Joseph, Mo., Police Department and the Buchanan County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department.

(Update) Ice storm warning now starts at 6 p.m. Saturday

Posted on January 13, 2017January 13, 2017

The National Weather Service has once again pushed the start time for the ice storm warning. This time is has been pushed from noon today to 6 p.m. Saturday for most of northwest Missouri and northeast Kansas.

...ICE STORM EXPECTED THIS WEEKEND...

.PERIODS OF SIGNIFICANT ICING ARE LIKELY ACROSS THE AREA THIS
WEEKEND...STARTING LATE THIS MORNING ACROSS AREAS MAINLY SOUTH OF
HIGHWAY 50 AND SPREADING NORTHWARD TOWARDS INTERSTATE 70 THROUGH
THE EVENING. PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD ALL OF THE
AREA BY SATURDAY NIGHT. THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ICING IS EXPECTED
SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING. PRECIPITATION WILL GRADUALLY
CHANGE OVER TO RAIN FROM SOUTH TO NORTH SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND
EVENING.

...ICE STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM SATURDAY TO MIDNIGHT
CST SUNDAY NIGHT...

* TIMING...PRECIPITATION WILL BEGIN SATURDAY EVENING...WITH
PERIODS OF FREEZING RAIN THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING. THE HEAVIEST
PERIODS OF ICE ACCUMULATION WILL BE SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY
MORNING.

* ICE ACCUMULATIONS...TOTAL ICE ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE-QUARTER TO
AROUND ONE HALF OF AN INCH.

* MAIN IMPACT...MAJOR IMPACTS TO TRAVEL ARE LIKELY AS ICE
ACCUMULATES ON AREA ROADWAYS. BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES WILL BE
MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO ICE ACCRETION. ICE ACCUMULATION ON TREES
AND POWERLINES MAY RESULT IN SCATTERED POWER OUTAGES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

AN ICE STORM WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF ICE ACCUMULATIONS
WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS OR IMPOSSIBLE. TRAVEL IS STRONGLY
DISCOURAGED. COMMERCE WILL LIKELY BE SEVERELY IMPACTED. IF YOU
MUST TRAVEL, KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT, FOOD, AND WATER IN YOUR
VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. ICE ACCUMULATIONS AND WINDS WILL
LIKELY LEAD TO SNAPPED POWER LINES AND FALLING TREE BRANCHES THAT
ADD TO THE DANGER.

Areas impacted:
ATCHISON KS-ADAIR-BUCHANAN-CLINTON-CALDWELL-LIVINGSTON-LINN MO- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF ATCHISON, KIRKSVILLE, ST. JOSEPH AIRPORT, ST. JOSEPH, CAMERON, PLATTSBURG, LATHROP, HAMILTON, BRAYMER, POLO, BRECKENRIDGE, CHILLICOTHE, BROOKFIELD, AND MARCELINE 1033 AM CST FRI JAN 13 2017

Obituaries January 9-11

Posted on January 13, 2017January 16, 2017

Jeanette Ione “Jan” Mikkelson (Dallager)
1940-2017

Jeanette Ione “Jan” Mikkelson (Dallager) was born Sunday, March 10th, 1940; and passed away Monday, January 9th, 2017. Visitation Saturday, January 21st, 2017, 2:00pm – 3:00pm. Located at the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Services Saturday, January 21st, 2017, 3:00pm. Located at the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Interment located at Sunset Memory Gardens in Atchison, Kansas.

Doris Lee Holtgrave (Wohlgemuth)
1926-2017

Doris Lee Holtgrave (Wohlgemuth) was born Sunday, December 12th, 1926; and passed away Monday, January 9th, 2017 in Atchison, Kansas. Visitation Friday, January 13th, 2017, 1:00pm – 2:00pm. Located at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home. Services Friday, January 13th, 2017, 2:00pm. Officiating Pastor Roger Frederick. Located at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home.

Buddy Scott
1942-2017

Buddy Scott, 74, St. Joseph, Missouri passed away Monday, January 9, 2017 at a local healthcare facility.
He was born August 2, 1942 in Harris, Missouri.
Buddy married Cindy Sue Schuman, who survives the home.
He proudly served in the US Air Force and was a firefighter with the St. Joseph Fire Department for over 20 years.
Buddy was preceded in death by his parents, Jewell and Ruth (Burton) Scott; sister, Carolyn Endicott; and brother, Billy Scott.
Survivors also include children, Wendy Scott, Joey Scott (Shelley); Charity Wampler (Dallas), Christy Ferguson (Brandon), and Ashley Scott; grandchildren, Nicole Sutton (Cody), Tyson Martin, Gage Wampler, Ali Wampler, Lexi Ferguson and Cash Ferguson; great-grandchildren, EmmaJo and Kaine Sutton.
Graveside Farewell Services and Interment 1:00 P.M. Thursday, Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory, where friends may call after 3:00 P.M. Wednesday. The procession will leave from Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorial donations to St. Joseph Fire Museum. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Beverly (Archer) Copeland
1925-2017

Beverly (Archer) Copeland, 91, Folsom CA, formerly of St. Joseph, MO passed away Tuesday, January 10, 2017.
Mrs. Copeland was a Christian and member of First Lutheran Church. She was born in St. Joseph MO. October 3, 1925, to May D. and Fred Archer. She was a 1943 graduate of Central High School and attended Northwest MO. State Teachers College.
On May 29th 1947, she married Jimmie Glenn Copeland of Georgia. Jimmie passed away in 2003 after 56 years of marriage. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Fred Archer, May Dorman (Maxfield) Archer; and brother, Harry Lyle Archer.
She is survived by daughter, Jane Lindsay (Copeland) Logsdon, son- in-law, David Michael Logsdon; and grandchildren, Sara Jane (Statham) Kubik (Damon), Folsom CA, Ryan Hart Statham, Folsom CA, Douglas Michael Logsdon, Los Angeles, CA and Heidi Nicole (Logsdon) Robb (Dan), Georgetown, TX. Three great grandchildren, Hailey Jean Statham, Damon (DJ) Eric Kubik, Jr, and Miles Austin Kubik; Sister, Joan (Archer) McFarland and brother-in-law, Bill, Biloxi, MS; Sister-in-law, Narvelle Copeland, Lafayette, GA; and numerous nephews and nieces.
Graveside Farewell Services & Interment 11:00 A.M. Friday, January 20, 2017 Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will gather with friends 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Thursday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. The procession will leave from Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. Flowers are appreciated and for those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to First Lutheran Church. Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.

Catherine “Kitty” Ann Cooley
1923-2017

Catherine “Kitty” Ann Cooley 93, of Saint Joseph, MO passed away Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at Mosaic Life Care Hospital. She was born April 3, 1923 in Denton, KS, daughter of the late Cecelia and Harry Joyce. She graduated from Benton High School 1941. She married Donald on June 4, 1955 St. James Catholic Church, he passed away in 2003. She retired from the St. Joseph School district after 25 years of service as an engineer, she also worked at Safeway as a cashier and as a homemaker. She was a life long member of St. James Catholic Church, St. James Alter Society, the Legion of Mary, and the Daughters of Isabella. Kitty was preceded in death by her husband, parents, and two brothers, Pat and Thomas Joyce, and a sister, Mary Elizabeth Stout. Survivors include four daughters; Winnie Cooley of Westwood Hills, KS, Mary Helen Przybylski of Parker, CO, Jeanie (Richard) Heath of St. Joseph, MO, and Sharon (Troy) Depperschmidt of Raytown, MO, three grandchildren, Jennifer (Adam) Blake of Littleton, CO, Frank (Lisa) Heath, and Katiy Heath Woolard both of Brooklyn, NY, 2 great grandchildren, Logan and Peyton Blake.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 17, 2017, at 11:00 am at the St. James Catholic Church, Father Evan Harkins Celebrant. The Rosary will be recited at 5:30 pm, Monday at the Rupp Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Monday at the Rupp Funeral Home. The Interment will be at the Mount Olivet Cemetery . Memorials are requested to the St. James Renovation Fund.