Second felony case against Casa Maria’s owner moved to Butler County
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The owner of a south Columbia Mexican restaurant is seeing another court case be moved to Butler County.
Crystal Umfress was charged in Dunklin County with two counts of filing false documents and three counts of forgery after she was accused of impersonating county officials and restaurant owners. A change of venue was granted on Tuesday. A case review is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14.
She is accused of impersonating officials to obtain information from other businesses, as well as sending fake emails as other business owners to withdraw their liquor licenses, court documents in previous reporting indicate.
Umfress was also charged last year with second-degree arson in Dunklin County for allegedly hiring Kerry Raymond to set fire to Lupita's Mexican Restaurant, court documents in previous reporting say. Umfress’ arson case was also moved to Butler County.
A hearing in that case is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Raymond was also charged with second-degree arson and his case was moved to Stoddard County. A case review is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 13.
Casa Maria’s Mexican Cantina in Columbia had its liquor license suspended this summer after the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control claimed a name was forged on the license and Umfress’ felony charge was not disclosed. The woman whose name appeared on the license had contacted the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control to say she had no affiliation with the restaurant.
