Court and Trials Archives

Auxvasse police chief pleads not guilty to domestic assault

February 11, 2022 9:28 AM Zachary Farwell

The suspended Auxvasse Police Department chief entered a plea of not guilty during a court hearing earlier this week.

Wrongful death lawsuit filed after Osage County crash

February 10, 2022 10:33 PM ABC 17 News Team

OSAGE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) The family of one of the people killed in a crash in Osage County in January is now suing the company the other driver worked for. The wreck happened on Highway 50 near Route N on Jan. 21. Court documents say Kale Durr was driving an ice cream factory truck when he

Jefferson City man accused of deadly shooting arrested in St. Louis for different shooting while out on bond

February 10, 2022 7:57 AM Zachary Farwell

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man accused of a deadly shooting in August 2018 out on bond was arrested this week in St. Louis for another shooting. The St. Louis Police Department says Alfred Chism Jr. was arrested on Tuesday for domestic assault and armed criminal action. According to the Cole County Prosecutor’s

Hearing scheduled Thursday in Columbia Public Schools mask mandate lawsuit

February 10, 2022 5:49 AM Ben Fein

A court hearing is set for 1:00 p.m. Thursday, to decide whether or not a mask mandate can remain in Columbia Public Schools.

Attorney for MU freshman hospitalized hopes lawsuit deters future hazing

February 4, 2022 9:20 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) – An attorney for the family suing the MU chapter of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity hopes the legal action gets groups to stop forced drinking. The lawsuit from the family of Danny Santulli claims members of the fraternity, often called Fiji, made the freshman drink a bottle of vodka in order to

Judge considering motions to reduce bond and dismiss the case against Quatavia Givens

February 4, 2022 4:30 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Cole County judge is considering motions to reduce bond and dismiss the case against Quatavia Givens. Givens is accused of killing 4-year-old Darnell Gray in Oct. 2018. Givens is charged with first-degree murder, abuse of a child, endangering a child and abandonment of a corpse. Givens was previously charged with

Property owners could be liable for injuries on sidewalks covered in snow

February 2, 2022 8:13 PM Leila Mitchell

Severe wintry weather makes for slippery and hazardous conditions, and while shoveling your walkways is no fun, it is important.

Prosecutors charge Columbia man accused of firing gun inside of apartment

February 1, 2022 12:44 PM Zachary Farwell

The Boone County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has filed charges against a Columbia man accused of firing a gun inside of an apartment.

More charges filed against Audrain County man accused of sex crimes against children

January 31, 2022 10:37 PM Karl Wehmhoener

An Audrain County prosecutor has filed more charges against a man accused of sex crimes against children.

Attorney general seeks restraining orders against CPS, other schools in mask lawsuits

January 31, 2022 4:03 PM Karl Wehmhoener

Missouri Attorney General Office has begun filing motions for temporary restraining orders in lawsuits against Columbia Public Schools and other school districts over mask mandates.

Columbia man sentenced after reaching plea deal in deadly shooting

January 28, 2022 12:40 PM Zachary Farwell

A Boone County judge sentenced a Columbia man to 27 years in prison Friday for his role in a deadly shooting.

Judge lowers bond for teen in shooting case

January 28, 2022 7:12 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A judge will give a Columbia teen a lower bond in a shooting case. Shawn Long, 18, is accused of shooting and killing Roberto Lauer last week. He’s charged with involuntary manslaughter. Long says he accidentally shot the gun at Lauer. We were in court when Long’s attorney argued to lower his quarter-million-dollar

Judge sentences Columbia man for illegal firearm

January 27, 2022 9:10 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A federal judge has sentenced a Columbia man for illegally possessing a firearm. Jeremiah Ezekiel Brown, 37, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison without parole. This is the maximum statutory penalty for this offense. Brown was found guilty at trial on Sept. 20, 2021, of being a felon in

Joseph Elledge pleads not guilty to three felony charges.

Judge plans to set trial date in Joseph Elledge child abuse trial

January 24, 2022 3:28 PM ABC 17 News Team

Jurors will be selected from Warren County after convicted killer Joseph Elledge child abuse trial after a hearing ended Monday afternoon.

Convicted murderers Joseph Elledge and Lynlee Renick both due in court Monday

January 24, 2022 5:50 AM Meghan Drakas

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Two convicted murderers are both set to continue with court proceedings Monday afternoon in Boone County. Joseph Elledge Mengqi Ji and Joseph Elledge Joseph Elledge was recently sentenced to 28 years in prison for second-degree murder in his wife, Mengqi Ji’s death. Elledge reported Ji missing in October of 2019. After investigators

Man files lawsuit against Cole County Jail after he allegedly shot himself while in custody

January 20, 2022 9:24 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A man that was shot while in custody at the Cole County Jail has filed a lawsuit saying he didn’t get adequate medical care after the shooting in Nov. 2019. Brandon McNeese alleges the Cole County Sheriff’s Department and Sheriff John Wheeler did not give the highest degree of care in

Auxvasse man sentenced for growing marijuana and gun possession

January 20, 2022 5:46 PM Karl Wehmhoener

A federal judge has sentenced an Auxvasse man for growing marijuana and illegally possessing dozens of firearms.

Columbia homicide suspect claims he didn’t know gun was loaded; pleads not guilty

January 19, 2022 8:40 AM Molly Stawinoga

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An 18-year-old accused of shooting and killing a man in northeast Columbia on Monday night says he didn’t know the gun was loaded. Shawn Long admitted to police in an interview on Tuesday that he picked up the gun and pointed it at Roberto Lauer, 18, in a “playful manner” before it

Bond denied for a Jefferson City man accused of a 2018 murder

January 17, 2022 8:26 PM Karl Wehmhoener

A Cole County judge denied bond for a Jefferson City teenager accused of murder last Wednesday.

Illinois tornado victim’s family sues Amazon over warehouse collapse

January 17, 2022 4:23 PM Associated Press

The family of a delivery driver who died last month when a tornado collapsed the Amazon warehouse in central Illinois where he worked has filed a wrongful death lawsuit.