Lawyer for Belle’s mayor files several motions in stealing trial
MARIES COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A number of motions were filed in court on Wednesday on behalf of the mayor of Belle.
They attorney for Darryl White Jr. filed a motion to dismiss, a motion to for a change of venue, a motion for a jury trial and a request for a speedy trial on Wednesday. A motion for discovery was filed on Thursday.
White was charged on Dec. 21 with misdemeanor stealing and official misconduct for allegedly misusing the city’s credit card, stealing paint cans and taking a gun.
The Maries County Sheriff’s Office searched Belle City Hall on Dec. 20. Deputies, however, could not find White. A Board of Aldermen agenda states that James Mitchell was named the mayor pro tem.
A criminal summons for White was issued on Dec. 21 and an initial court appearance is set for 9:30 a.m. Feb. 13. The city stated in a press release earlier this month that it would not comment on White’s charges.
According to a probable cause statement, White was allegedly seen taking several spray cans from the city’s road department garage. The statement also says a witness told law enforcement to check financial records and accused White of “misusing the city’s credit card again.”
The statement says the head of Belle Public Works did not authorize the purchase of the spray paint. A redacted source in the probable cause statement claimed White had one of his employees order the paint from one of his friends and that the city did not need to paint. Court documents also state that Kimball Midwest, the company the items were purchased from, did not have an account with the city.
The statement also claims White took a gun from Belle’s police department. The statement claims the police chief at the time saw White take the gun in November 2022. The statement claims White saw a gun with a masonic emblem and stated he was taking it home.
The chief claimed in the statement that he knew it was wrong, but didn’t stop White in fear of losing his job. The statement says the gun was placed back into the locker by Dec. 19, 2023.
In a statement, the city claimed no money was missing from its bank accounts and none of its guns are missing or have been misused.
