Carter hears 22 cases during Jan. 6 Law Day

Circuit Judge Craig Carter processed five civil cases and 17 criminal cases during the Jan. 6 session of Ozark County Law Day. Updates on the criminal cases are listed below. 

 

Guilty plea, sentenced to prison

Christopher S. Davis pleaded guilty to aiding the escape of a prisoner confined for a felony in connection with the Aug. 28, 2020, escape of fellow prisoner Robert Abbott from the Ozark County Jail. He was sentenced to five years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The sentence is to run concurrently, or at the same time, as another five-year prison sentence for violating his probation in a previous case. In that case, Davis originally pleaded guilty in April 2019 to possession of a controlled substance. 

 

Sent to prison for violating probation

Amber Sue Davis, who pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance in May 2018, appeared for a probation-violation hearing in connection with the sixth probation violation she’s had in the case. She admitted to violating her probation, her probation was revoked and she was sentenced to the Missouri Department of Corrections for three years. 

The newest violation report was filed Dec. 8 after a Nov. 29 incident when Davis reportedly entered the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department, talking to herself. She was arrested on an active warrant that had been previously issued, and deputies reportedly found methamphetamine in her pocket, court documents say. She is now facing a new charge of possession of methamphetamine. 

Davis has violated her probation in the case six times so far. Violation reports are on file in October 2018, December 2018, February 2019, November 2019, March 2020 and December 2020. 

She entered the drug court program in September 2019 but failed to comply with the conditions and was terminated two months later. 

 

Shock time for violating bond terms

Dennis Millem, charged with possession of a controlled substance, appeared for a plea hearing or trial setting. Millem, who had issued a pre-trial release with supervision from Court Probationary Services, violated the terms of his bond five times in October and November 2020. He was arrested at the court hearing and sentenced to seven days shock jail time in the Ozark County Jail. 

Millem was originally arrested on a $1,500 cash-only bond in September 2020. The next day he was released on his own recognizance with supervision from CPS. According to online records, the supervising officer issued non-compliance reports Oct. 8, Oct. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 17 and Nov. 23. 

Millem is scheduled to return to court Feb. 3 for the plea or trial setting. 

 

Continued on probation

Heather A. Mangan, who pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance in May 2017, appeared for a case review. Online records indicate she completed a 30-day inpatient drug treatment program. She was continued on probation. 

Kenneth Smith, who pleaded guilty to stealing $750 or more, appeared for a probation-violation hearing. He was arrested Dec. 23, 2020, and served a seven-day shock jail sentence for violating his probation. It was the first probation violation in the case. He was continued on probation. 

Michael James Williams, who pleaded guilty to domestic assault in October 2019, appeared for a probation-violation hearing. He completed a seven-day shock jail sentence for violating his probation. It was the third probation violation in the case. Violations were filed May 26, Sept. 9 and Nov. 25, 2020. 

 

Case complete

Michael Linn Cox, who pleaded guilty to domestic assault in November 2017, appeared for a case review. He paid all fines and court costs involved with the case during Law Day. He was discharged from probation. The case is complete.

 

Scheduled for or continued to Feb. 3

Charles J. Simpson, charged with domestic assault, appeared for a plea hearing or trial setting. The case was continued. 

 

Scheduled for or continued to March 3

Nicholas J. Keeling, charged with possession of a controlled substance, appeared for a plea hearing or trial setting with his attorney. The hearing was continued. 

Nicholas J. Keeling, charged with possession of a controlled substance, was scheduled to appear for a plea hearing or trial setting. The hearing was continued.

 

Scheduled for or continued to April 7

Albert Lee Sanford, who pleaded guilty to second-degree assault by operating a vehicle while intoxicated, resulting in injury in December 2017, appeared for a probation-violation hearing. A restitution review is scheduled for April 7. 

Archie Vincent, who pleaded guilty to non-support of a child with total arrears in excess of 12 monthly payments due under a child support order in October 2016, appeared for a case review. Another case review is scheduled for April 7. 

 

No public updates available

The following defendants and cases were listed on the Jan. 6 Law Day court docket. However, online records through the Missouri court system in these cases are not currently visible to the public; therefore we cannot report on what happened in court in these instances. Cases can be hidden from public view when there are active warrants, probation and parole updates or other confidential notations.

 

David Bushong, who pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance in February 2019, was scheduled to appear for a probation-violation hearing.

Alexander Everhart, who pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance in April 2018, was scheduled to appear for a case review.

Ryan S. Padgett, charged with three counts of distributing a controlled substance, was scheduled to appear for a case review. 

Austin Craig Williams, who pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, unlawful use of.a weapon (possessing a firearm and felony-level controlled substance at the same time) in October 2019, was scheduled to appear for a probation violation hearing. 

Tanner W. Jennings, charged with driving while intoxicated causing serious injury to another person and leaving the scene of an accident with injury, was scheduled to appeared for a plea hearing or trial setting. 

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423