FULTON, Mo. (AP) — A central Missouri woman is sentenced to life in prison without parole in the shooting death of her husband, a former Jefferson City police officer.
Sandra Plunkett was sentenced Monday in Callaway County Court for the January 2011 death of 52-year-old Paul Plunkett at their home in Holts Summit.
The Jefferson City News-Tribune reports that after the sentencing, Plunkett’s attorney filed an appeal.
Prosecutors say Plunkett shot her husband while he was in bed. She originally told officers she saw a man leaving the area with a rifle, but later confessed to the murder.
She claimed during her trial that she shot her husband in self-defense after suffering years of abuse.
Prosecutors argued that Plunkett shot her husband to collect a life insurance policy to support her heroin addiction.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether a juror’s comments during trial deliberations can be used to show dishonesty during the jury selection process.
The justices said Monday they will hear an appeal from a South Dakota man seriously injured in a motorcycle accident with a truck. He sued for negligence, but a jury returned a verdict for the truck owner.
A juror later revealed that another juror commented during deliberations that her daughter had been at fault in a similar case and a lawsuit against her daughter would have “ruined her life.”
The motorcyclist sought a new trial, saying the juror was dishonest during the jury selection process when she claimed she could be impartial.
The district court denied the new trial motion and an appeals court agreed.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Authorities in Kansas City, Kan., are searching for a 21-year-old Shawnee man charged in another man’s shooting death.
The Wyandotte District Attorney’s office said in a release Monday that Joshua Hare is charged with second-degree murder in the Feb. 25 death of 26-year-old Chad Coen. Hare’s also charged with criminal possession of a firearm.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Hare, who was not in custody Monday. Authorities say Hare should be considered dangerous.
With doctorate degrees in communication and long, distinguished careers in higher education, Bob and Laurel Vartabedian are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of university students. That dedication has led them to make a personal financial commitment of more than $100,000 to Missouri Western State University, where Bob serves as president. With the gift, the Vartabedians establish a new donor recognition program called the President’s Centennial Circle.
“I really believe in this university and in this community, and Laurel and I wanted to show that in a tangible way,” President Vartabedian said. “As I have said many times, some universities enhance the lives of their students. I truly believe that Missouri Western transforms the lives of its students. All you have to do is attend one of our commencement ceremonies, and you can see that emotional transformation on the faces of our students as they walk across the stage.”
Dr. Bob and Dr. Laurel Vartabedian
The Missouri Western State University Foundation is preparing for a capital campaign, to be conducted in conjunction with Missouri Western’s centennial celebration in 2015. The Vartabedians’ gift helps jump-start the planning efforts for that campaign, said Jerry Pickman, vice president for University Advancement and executive director of the Foundation.
“Donors want to know that the people seeking their financial support are themselves deeply committed to the cause,” Pickman said. “This gift by the Vartabedians is a strong demonstration of that commitment.”
The Vartabedians have pledged a total of $144,000 to the future campaign. Most of the gift is undesignated at this point, but a small portion is supporting the revival of a speech and debate team at Missouri Western.
The Vartabedians’ gift also inaugurates a new donor recognition program, the President’s Centennial Circle, which will recognize donors with a lifetime history of giving $100,000 or more to the University. More details are below.
“As we prepare to solicit leadership gifts for this capital campaign, I cannot ask others to do something that I am not willing to do,” President Vartabedian said. “I have always liked to believe that our dream is a moralistic one and not a materialistic one. That is, Laurel and I want to make a difference – and Missouri Western is the culmination of our lives’ work.”
“This university and community mean a great deal to us, and we wanted to lead the charge on this once-in-a-hundred-years campaign,” Laurel added.
President’s Centennial Circle
In anticipation of Missouri Western’s centennial celebration, the President’s Centennial Circle has been established. The President’s Centennial Circle will commemorate the extraordinary donors who have contributed most significantly to the success of the University in its first 100 years and recognize those donors who have made a similar level of commitment toward envisioning its future.
The President’s Centennial Circle recognizes both individuals and organizations that have gifted or pledged in excess of $100,000 to the Missouri Western State University Foundation. Members of the President’s Centennial Circle are invited to an exclusive, annual celebration and are honored with a plaque as a new member.
Members of the President’s Centennial Circle receive the following (optional) lifetime benefits:
Online recognition
Recognition in MWSU publications
Opportunity to attend exclusive events
Lapel pin indicating circle membership
Insider communication from MWSU and the MWSU Foundation
Special recognition at MWSU Foundation events
Invitation to dinner with the MWSU president
Listing on an on-campus commemorative plaque
Qualifying criteria:
Cumulative giving exceeds $100,000 in cash or appreciated securities
(corporate matching gifts apply; gifts-in-kind apply)
Documented pledge in excess of $100,000 Combination of cumulative giving and documented pledges exceeds a total of $100,000
Documentation of an irrevocable deferred gift in excess or $100,000 (e.g. charitable remainder trust)
Documentation of a revocable deferred gift (e.g. bequest or revocable trust)
Disqualifying criteria:
Documented pledge is revoked or remains unfulfilled under the terms outlined in the agreement
The intention of the MWSU Foundation is to equitably recognize all qualifying donors of the society. MWSU Foundation donors should be aware of potential inaccuracies in historic giving data. Please contact the MWSU Foundation if your giving history appears to be inaccurate.
(AP) – A Newton County jury has convicted a 35-year-old southwest Missouri man of sexually exploiting a minor.
The Joplin Globe reports the jury found Richard D. McNabb II guilty Friday of sexual exploitation of a minor and sexual misconduct involving a child. His trial lasted three days.
The Newton County prosecutor’s office offered to dismiss the exploitation and misconduct charges if McNabb would plead guilty to possession of child pornography. McNabb initially took the deal, but later withdrew his plea and sought a trial.
A 16-year-old girl testified at the trial that McNabb took nude photographs of her on two occasions when she was 9 or 10 years old and performed a sex act in front of her. McNabb denied the allegations.
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority says it’s going to offer free Wi-Fi service on several of its buses.
Metro and MAX riders will soon be able to get more out of their commute with free WiFi powered by T-Mobile on select buses. All MAX vehicles and 22 Metro buses will have WiFi service later this week.
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority is conducting this pilot to determine the demand for the WiFi on buses. KCATA will also assess how well existing technology can meet the needs of riders.
“Our riders are generally very connected and technologically savvy,” said Director of Communications Cindy Baker. “We are excited to provide a way for them to stay connected while they are riding the Metro, whether they want to check email to get ready for the workday or just relax and surf the web.”
(AP) – A small handful of donors account for the bulk of money raised for statewide candidates and ballot measures in Missouri.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch analyzed money raised by Missouri campaign committees from 2011 through 2013. The analysis found that more than half – about $67 million – came from donations of $5,000 or more.
In fact, donations of $10,000 or more accounted for $53 million. That means that 1.1 percent of contributions accounted for 42 percent of what the campaigns raised.
Missouri State University professor George Connor says the absence of contribution limits in Missouri exacerbates the reliance on big donors. Missouri is one of four states with no contribution cap, and it is the only state allowing unlimited donations and unlimited gifts from lobbyists to public officials.
ROGERSVILLE (AP) – A southwest Missouri prosecutor will not file charges in the death of a 4-year-old girl who was shot while a man was target shooting.
Christian County Prosecutor Amy Fite told The Springfield News-Leader she decided not to file charges after reviewing statements from the sheriff’s department.
The documents indicate the man did not know that the child, Zoie Dougan, of Branson, was in front of him when he fired a rifle last October at a home near Rogersville.
Witnesses also told investigators the man was not drinking, was distraught after the shooting and said he didn’t realize he had shot the child.
Zoie’s mother, who was present at the scene, also told investigators she believed the shooting was an accident. The man’s name has not been released.
FULTON, Mo. (AP) — A central Missouri woman is sentenced to life in prison without parole in the shooting death of her husband, a former Jefferson City police officer.
