Court and Trials Archives

Man accused of murder in missing mom case denied bail

December 7, 2020 3:16 PM Matt Ragsdale

The man accused of murder in the case of a Columbia missing mom was denied bond Monday afternoon.

Riechmann Indoor Pavilion to be used as site for jury trial and selection

December 4, 2020 7:27 PM Victoria Bragg

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) COVID-19 has brought on many changes for the Boone County Court House. Today it was decided that the Reichmann Pavilion at Stephen Lake Park in Columbia, will be used as an additional site for Boone County Court’s jury trials and selection. Division III Circuit Judge, Judge Kevin Crane, will be overseeing the

Trial date set for suspect in teen’s central Columbia killing

December 4, 2020 5:21 PM Lucas Geisler

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man is set to be tried in March for a fatal shooting despite requests from his lawyer to speed up the case. Judge Kevin Crane on Friday set Javion Lawhorn’s trial to start March 1. Assistant Boone County prosecutor Morley Swingle said he expects the trial to last three days,

Judge dismisses criminal counts in Missouri duck boat deaths

December 3, 2020 3:05 PM Associated Press

LIBERTY, Mo. (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed neglect and misconduct charges against three employees of a tourist boat that sank on a Missouri lake in 2018, killing 17 people. U.S. District Judge Doug Harpool filed an order Wednesday upholding a recommendation made in September. The boat captain, the general manager of the boat’s

Chicago man charged with DWI causing serious bodily injury after Tuesday night wreck

November 19, 2020 11:14 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Chicago man is charged with DWI after a Tuesday night wreck that sent one person to the hospital with serious injuries. According to court documents, Pierre Garrett was crashed going eastbound on Interstate 70 at the US 40 overpass. Garrett told Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper that someone had robbed him

Judge denies drug makers’ request to toss Missouri lawsuit

November 19, 2020 6:50 PM Lucas Geisler

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (KMIZ) A St. Louis judge rejected a request for painkiller makers to throw out a lawsuit over their role in addiction issues across the state. Judge Michael Stelzer denied the summary judgement request from four drug makers to throw out the lawsuit based on federal preemption. Stelzer said in a Wednesday ruling

TUESDAY UPDATES: Pettis County reporting two more COVID-19 related deaths

November 17, 2020 9:38 AM ABC 17 News Team

Check back for updates on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Missouri high court reviews new public union restrictions

November 17, 2020 3:04 PM Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court is deciding whether new restrictions on public unions can be enacted. Judges on Tuesday heard arguments in the case. At issue is a 2018 law requiring public unions to get permission every year to deduct dues from workers’ paychecks. Public safety unions are exempt. A judge last

Judge finds Missouri parolees treated unconstitutionally

November 13, 2020 3:09 PM Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A federal judge says Missouri is still unconstitutionally sending parolees back to prison, despite the state’s claims that it fixed systemic issues. Kansas City’s KCUR-FM on Friday reported the judge is ordering Missouri to take action. At issue is how Missouri’s parole board often sends parolees to prison without informing

Sunrise Beach Fire Chief petitions court to fill board position

November 5, 2020 10:58 PM Karl Wehmhoener

SUNRISE BEACH, Mo. (KMIZ) Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District Fire Chief Joseph LaPlant has petitioned the Circuit Court of Camden County to fill a vacant board position that the Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District board hasn’t filled since June of this year. According to a press release, Board Director Brian Layman resigned from the Board

New York man accused of exploiting Missouri sisters pleads guilty to child porn charge

November 3, 2020 4:56 PM Matt Ragsdale

A New York man pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to produce child pornography on Tuesday.

Conviction and 10-year sentence upheld in payday loan scam

November 3, 2020 3:19 PM Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — An appeals court has upheld the conviction and 10-year sentence for a businessman who ran a $220 million predatory payday lending operation that cheated over a half-million people nationwide. The ruling Tuesday by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals followed the 2018 sentencing of Richard Moseley Sr., of Kansas City,

Columbia man found guilty in baby’s death

October 29, 2020 5:57 PM ABC 17 News Team

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Columbia man has been found guilty in the death of his six-month-old daughter. The Boone County Prosecutor’s office told ABC 17 News that just after 5 p.m. Corativa Smith was found guilty of child abuse in the death of his baby girl. He was arrested in March 2018. According to court

Holts Summit teen sentenced to 6 years in prison after pleading guilty to accessory murder charge

October 29, 2020 8:55 AM Matt Ragsdale

A Holts Summit teen was sentenced to six years in prsion on Wednesday after pleading guilty to a felony murder charge.

Boone County man pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter for June 2019 shooting

October 28, 2020 4:00 PM Karl Wehmhoener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) A Boone County man entered a guilty plea last week for a June 2019 shooting and a judge sentenced him to 12 years in a Missouri prison. Derrick Petty pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action on Oct. 23. Petty will serve 12 years for the crime. Judge Brouck Jacobs

Gun-wielding St. Louis couple seek prosecutor’s removal

October 28, 2020 3:04 PM Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A St. Louis couple facing felony charges for waving guns at racial injustice protesters who marched near their home will be in court Wednesday asking a judge to remove the city’s top prosecutor from the case. A grand jury earlier this month indicted Mark McCloskey and his wife, Patricia, on charges

Jefferson City man convicted of 2017 murder

October 23, 2020 8:30 AM Matt Ragsdale

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) A jury convicted a Jefferson City man of second-degree murder linked to a 2017 killing on Thursday. The Cole County Prosecutor said a sentencing date has not yet been decided. Jeffery Millens was found guilty of murder, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm, Locke Thompson said. Millens is

Gov. Parson appoints William P. Devoy as Associate Circuit Judge for 9th Judicial Circuit

October 22, 2020 4:16 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Governor Mike Parson appointed William P. Devoy as Associate Circuit Judge for the 9th Judicial Circuit. The 9th Judicial Circuit serves Chariton, Linn & Sullivan county. Devoy will fill the Associate Circuit Judge vacancy created by the death of the Honorable Scot T. Othic. Devoy, of Brookfield, is currently an Attorney

Governor Parson Appoints Judge Kelly C. Broniec to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District

October 19, 2020 7:48 PM Karl Wehmhoener

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Gov. Mike Parson appointed Judge Kelly C. Broniec to the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District. Judge Broniec will succeed Judge Roy L. Richter who retired in July. Judge Broniec holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from William Woods University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Columbia

Death penalty reinstated in 1996 double killing in Missouri

October 19, 2020 8:02 PM Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A man convicted of killing an eastern Missouri couple in 1996 will once again face the death penalty. A federal appeals court on Monday reinstated the death penalty against Carmen Deck, who robbed and killed James and Zelma Long at their De Soto home. Deck has been sentenced to death three