JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Missouri state representative said changes he suggested to the state’s parole eligibility were not intended to apply to a Cole County woman serving a life sentence for murder. Rep. Mark Sharp, D-Kansas City, told ABC 17 News he did not support an early release for Alyssa Bustamante, the St. Martins
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The legal team filed a notice of appeal to the state’s highest court Thursday after a ruling against them in Cole County court the day before
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man sentenced to federal prison for 23 years was given compassionate release today by a U.S. District Judge. Eric McCauley was sentenced in 2012 for marijuana and money-laundering felonies. In his order, Judge Stephen Bough stated, “Upon review of the record, the Court finds further incarceration is not needed to
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A national advocacy group wants Gov. Mike Parson to veto a criminal justice bill over changes to the state’s parole board hearings. The National Organization of Victims of Juvenile Murderers called for the veto of Senate Bill 26, which deals with several public safety issues. Included in the bill is a
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O’FALLON, Mo. (AP) — St. Louis and adjoining St. Louis County have filed a lawsuit seeking to block Missouri’s new law barring state and local authorities from enforcing federal gun laws. The suit filed Monday argues that the Republican-backed law would increase the risk of gun violence. It seeks an injunction to halt enforcement of
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Prosecutors in a case against a Columbia man accused in a 2017 killing are now required to present GPS data by July 6th. The GPS data is crucial in the case against 28-year-old Jeffrey McWilliams. McWilliams is charged with second-degree murder, robbery and armed criminal action in the death of Augustus Roberts.
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Missouri’s Republican governor and attorney general have told the U.S. Department of Justice that they stand by the state’s new law that would ban police from enforcing federal gun rules.
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is warning Missouri officials that the state can’t ignore federal law, after the governor signed a bill last week that bans police from enforcing federal gun rules. A top Justice Department official sent a letter Wednesday night saying the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution outweighs the measure that
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City woman has been placed on two years of unsupervised probation in connection with a Columbia arson case from April. According to online court records, Alruekia Brown-Wells pleaded guilty to two counts of fourth-degree assault. Brown-Wells was arrested on felony charges of first-degree arson and endangering the welfare of a
Continue Reading JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Jefferson City man was placed on two years of unsupervised probation Thursday for unlawful use of a weapon, a misdemeanor, after shooting the gun into the air to break up a fight in Jefferson City at a funeral of a friend. Pierre Starks was arrested in Dec. 2019 after a
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FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ) A Callaway County woman is now in a state mental hospital after pleading not guilty by reason of insanity in a 2020 murder case. Callaway County prosecutor Chris Wilson said Lola Crews made the plea on April 26 and effectively ends the case. Wilson said that two mental evaluations found that Crews
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s attorney general has closed an open-records complaint filed against Gov. Mike Parson. Records provided to The Associated Press show Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office last week closed the complaint filed by a Missouri news outlet. A Missouri Independent reporter had asked Schmitt’s office to investigate after Parson’s office refused to
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Each side agreed Tuesday to drop the lawsuit that Jennifer Henderson brought against the Business Loop 70 Community Improvement District in 2016.
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Assistant prosecutor David Hansen laid out his reasoning in an 11-page letter to Columbia police Chief Geoff Jones on Tuesday.
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A trial date is set for a Columbia man accused in a 2017 killing. The trial against 28-year-old Jeffrey McWilliams has been set for August 13th through September 3rd. McWilliams is charged with second-degree murder, robbery and armed criminal action in the death of Augustus Roberts. Roberts died at a home off
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COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Boone County judge won’t let the attorney for Lynlee Renick to question a Boone County prosecutor handling the case of a key witness. Judge Kevin Crane denied the request to interview a Boone County assistant prosecutor about any potential deals made between it and Brandon Blackwell. Crane said Renick’s attorney, Tim
Continue Reading ST. LOUIS (AP) — The former city clerk for a small town in northeast Missouri has pleaded guilty to federal charges for defrauding the town out of $317,000. Federal prosecutors in St. Louis announced Friday that 48-year-old Tracey Ray admitted to wire fraud and federal program theft. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 17. Ray was
Continue Reading COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A new judge will take over a case against a Columbia man accused in a 2017 killing. 28-year-old Jeffrey McWilliams is charged with second-degree murder, robbery and armed criminal action in the death of Augustus Roberts. Roberts died at a home off Lasso Circle in December 2017. Judge Josh Devine will now
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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A Cole County grand jury has indicted a man on new gun charges in an early May shooting. Semaj Harris is accused of murder in a Jefferson City. Semaj Harris was charged with aiding a shooting from a vehicle and illegal gun possession in a May 5 shots-fired incident at Community
Continue Reading JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court has ruled that a $3 court fee to pay for sheriffs’ retirement is unconstitutional. Judges on Tuesday ruled that the sheriffs’ retirement fund is not related to the administration of justice, meaning those fees are not allowed. The case at hand deals with two drivers who
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