Court and Trials Archives

Former Columbia police chief pleads guilty to excessive blood alcohol

December 6, 2019 11:20 AM Matthew Sanders

Columbia’s former police chief pleaded guilty Friday to driving with excessive blood-alcohol content, his attorney said.

Burton attorney says off-duty officer tipped off CPD prior to DWI arrest

December 5, 2019 9:10 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) An off-duty Columbia police officer told his co-workers he saw former police chief Ken Burton drinking prior to officers pulling Burton over and ticketing him. Defense attorney Andrew Popplewell disclosed some of the details of Burton’s arrest in a motion to suppress evidence in the case. Burton faces one count of driving

Camden County man charged with multiple counts of child pornography

December 5, 2019 10:36 PM Alec Pettus

Prosecutors charged a man in Camden County with child pornography after an anonymous letter was sent to the Camden County Children’s Division, according to court documents. The letter contained a micro SD card that showed images of child pornography. The images were then traced to Jason Medeiros of Camdenton, court documents say. Investigators executed a

Change of judge granted in Elledge child abuse case

December 5, 2019 6:17 PM Matthew Sanders

Lawyers for a Columbia man accused of child abuse and suspected in his wife’s disappearance have asked for a change of judge.

Jefferson City murder suspect moved from Cole County Jail to prison

December 5, 2019 7:36 PM Katie Greathouse

A man accused of killing two people in Jefferson City on Thanksgiving is in prison, according to Cole County Sheriff John Wheeler. Wheeler said Torry Upchurch, 27, is no longer in Cole County’s custody. He is now back in the custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections because of a parole warrant, Wheeler said. According

Dive teams enter third day of search for missing Columbia woman

December 4, 2019 10:24 AM Zach Boetto

Divers continued their search of the Lamine River for a missing Columbia woman on Wednesday.

Cole County man faces several charges after November chase

December 4, 2019 8:06 PM Matt Ragsdale

COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ) Cole County prosecutors charged a man with drug possession after county deputies said he led authorities on a chase in November. Ben Bates, 27, of Lohman was arrested and charged Monday. Court documents say Bates drove on the wrong side of the road after pulling out of a dollar store parking

Boone County prosecutor: No body needed to file murder charges

December 4, 2019 12:33 PM Molly Stawinoga

Boone County’s head prosecutor said Wednesday that murder convictions can be won without a body, as divers continued their search for a missing Columbia woman in the Lamine River.

Court documents: Child fought off rape attempt in Callaway County

December 4, 2019 5:12 PM Matt Ragsdale

FULTON, Mo. (KMIZ) Callaway County prosecutors charged a Fulton man with second-degree child molestation after he allegedly tried to rape a child who fought him off. Carl Martin, 38, was arrested Tuesday by Callaway County sheriff’s deputies. He’s accused of trying to have sex with a child younger than 12 years old. Court documents say

Woman accused of arson pleads guilty to lesser charges

December 2, 2019 9:32 PM Katie Greathouse

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A woman accused of setting a fire in July 2018 pleaded guilty to lesser charges Monday. Boone County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jennifer Rodewald confirmed Tammy Nevels pleaded guilty to delivery or possession of a controlled substance and fourth-degree assault. Court documents filed in 2018 said Nevels used a lighter to set a

Elledge pleads not guilty in child abuse case

November 26, 2019 9:55 AM Madison Fleck

COLUMBIA, Mo, A Columbia man accused of child abuse pleaded not guilty to two felony charges in court on Tuesday morning. Joseph Elledge, 24, pleaded not guilty to child abuse or neglect and endangering the welfare of a child after he waived his preliminary hearing, said Boone County Prosecutor Dan Knight. The case is now

Judge sets bond for Columbia businessman accused of child molestation

November 26, 2019 7:53 AM Madison Fleck

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia businessman accused of child molestation had his bond set at $500,000 cash on Monday. Cale J. Kliethermes was originally booked in the Boone County Jail on Nov. 14 on no bond. His attorney requested the court set his bond at $50,000. Kliethermes, the owner of Kliethermes Homes and Remodeling, was

Missouri man takes plea deal in Boone County killing plot

November 25, 2019 5:00 PM Matt Ragsdale

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A man charged with conspiracy to commit murder pleaded guilty on two lesser felonies Monday. Jared Bears, 21, of Oak Grove, Mo. pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal a motor vehicle and failure to appear in court. Bears was charged with co-defendant Brian Kelley accused of plotting to kill Kelley’s grandparents. Brian

Two plead guilty to federal charges in DeBrodie death

November 22, 2019 4:23 PM Matthew Sanders

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Two people accused in the death of a mentally disabled man in Callaway County pleaded guilty Friday in federal court. Sherry K. Paulo, 54, and Anthony R. Flores, 59, pleaded guilty to failing to provide medical care to Carl DeBrodie, resulting in injury or death, according to a release from the

Judge sentences former MU football player to probation

November 22, 2019 8:54 PM Matt Ragsdale

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KMIZ) A Springfield judge sentenced Dorial Green-Beckham to two years probation linked to a pair of charges from 2018. Green-Beckham pleaded guilty Friday to resisting arrest and possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana. Online court records show the charges come from an incident in December 2018. Our ABC affiliate in Springfield,

Bond revoked for Boonville child molestation suspect

November 22, 2019 1:44 PM Matthew Sanders

A Boonville child molestation suspect is back in the Cooper County Jail after allegedly violating the conditions of his bond by leaving home six times in a week, including multiple trips to Walmart and one to Columbia.

Columbia man pleads guilty in Planned Parenthood arson

November 21, 2019 11:17 AM Connor Hirsch

A Columbia man pleaded guilty on Thursday morning in connection with a fire that was intentionally set to the Planned Parenthood in Columbia in February. Wesley B. Kaster, 42, pleaded guilty before to one count of maliciously using explosive materials to damage a building owned by an organization that receives federal financial assistance, and one

Man faces federal charge after north Columbia chase

November 20, 2019 8:52 PM Matt Ragsdale

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) Federal prosecutors charged a man with being a felon in possession of a firearm after a chase in north Columbia led to three arrests Tuesday. Joseph Luckett, 25, was charged Wednesday after federal investigators said he was investigated accused of selling heroin. A special agent with Alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco said Luckett

Jury rules man guilty of murder in Waffle House shooting case

November 20, 2019 10:17 AM Connor Hirsch

The trial of a man accused in a deadly 2018 shooting at a Columbia Waffle House continued Wednesday with testimony from one of two men shot that night.

Waffle House shooting surveillance video

November 20, 2019 4:15 PM ABC 17 News Team

WARNING: Video shows graphic violence.