Pleas heard and trials set in court

Circuit Court Judge Craig Carter processed 22 defendants during the Jan. 22 session of Ozark County Circuit Court.

Bethany Turner, attorney for Patrick Kyle Lee, asked for a continuance for her client who was scheduled for a jury trial beginning Jan. 29. The motion was denied. However, the case was dismissed on Jan. 28 and the trial was canceled. Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney Lee Pipkins refiled the charges of first degree burglary, second degree domestic assault and second degree robbery. The case is now in the associate court.

Danial Teconchuk had his probation revoked and is awaiting transportation to the Missouri Department of Corrections. In October 2019, Teconchuk originally pleaded guilty to first degree property damage, second degree burglary, stealing $750 or more, and possession of a controlled substance. At that time Teconchuck was sentenced to SIS and five year probation. An SIS, or suspended imposition of sentence, means the defendant is placed on probation for a period of time. If the defendant follows the terms of their probation, at the end of the probation period the court will close the case and they will not have a criminal conviction on their records. However, if the defendant violates the probation, a full sentence may be invoked. After admitting violating his probation by failing to pay restitution, he was sentenced to seven years each on the charges of burglary, property damage and stealing, and four years on possession of a controlled substance. All sentences will be served concurrently. 

Trials scheduled

A trial was set for Jimmy Coy Haag with a pretrial hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. May 7. Haag is charged with first degree harassment and second degree domestic assault.

A trial was set for Chad Russell McKee with a pretrial hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 8. McKee is charged with first degree assault or attempted assault with serious physical injury or special victim, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon by exhibiting and possession of a controlled substance.

Steven R. Caldwell pleaded not guilty to charges of delivery of a controlled substance and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon by possessing a weapon and felony controlled substance. A trial was scheduled and a pre-trial conference will be held at 9 a.m. Sept. 3.

Pleas

Michelle D. Mahler pleaded not guilty to charges of delivery of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and unlawful use of a weapon by possessing a weapon and felony controlled substance. A plea or trial setting will be held at 9 a.m. March 5. According to Pipkins, additional charges of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia with prior drug offense were filed on Jan. 18. A preliminary hearing on those charges is set for 1:30 p.m. March 11 before Judge Raymond Gross in Ozark County Associate Court. 

Continued on probation

James T. Young appeared for a probation conditions review hearing. He was continued on probation.

Continued to Feb. 5

Thomas Stephen Pettit had his plea or trial setting continued to 9 a.m. Feb. 5. Pettit is charge with three counts of possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia with prior drug offense.

Christopher Scott Davis had his plea or trial setting continued to 9 a.m. Feb. 5. Davis is charged with possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia with prior drug offense, stealing and first degree trespassing.

Jared Johnston had his plea or trial setting continued to 9 a.m. Feb. 5 in order to consider an amended offer from the prosecution. Johnston is charged with second degree trafficking drugs and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. 

Darin Van Evans had his plea or trial setting continued to 9 a.m. Feb. 5. Evans is charged with DWI - persistent offender.

Continued to Feb. 19

Julia Anne Lesh appeared before Judge Carter to speak to him about the public defender’s office denying representation because she had previous counsel. Judge Carter appointed the public defender to represent Lesh and scheduled her next appearance at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 19. 

The probation violation hearing for Michelle Wilcox is continued to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 19. Wilcox’s attorney, Public Defender Chase Opolka said this will give him time to review a body cam video provided by the state. He also requested that the condition of Wilcox’s probation that prevents her from having contact with her husband Orval Merriman be removed. The motion was overruled and the condition of probation. A plea or trial setting was also continued to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 19. She is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, willfully failing or refusing to obey or resisting or opposing a law enforcement officer or firefighter in the proper discharge of their duties. 

The plea or trial setting for Michael L. Jones is continued to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 19. He is charged with possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a firearm. According to Prosecuting Attorney Lee Pipkins, new charges have been filed against Jones, and he is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on Feb. 11, in Ozark County Associate Court before Judge Raymond Gross.

The plea or trial setting for Orval D. Merriman is continued. Merriman is charged with second degree trafficking and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Merriman is currently in the residential rehabilitation program Standing By the Door in Branson and is nearly halfway through the program, according to his attorney Rodney Daniels. However, Court Probationary Services informed the court that the program has not been communicating with them. In addition, Pipkins said he was getting reports that Merriman has been in the county. Daniels said that the program directors had been giving Merriman day releases to work. Merriman cuts wood, and he was being allowed to come into Ozark County to cut wood on his property. Judge Carter ordered that Merriman be screened for Drug Court and continued his plea or trial setting to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 19.

Jeremiah Love had his plea or trial setting continued to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 19. Love is charged with possession of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a weapon by possessing a weapon and felony controlled substance, first degree harassment, fourth degree domestic assault, second degree property damage, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, escape or attempted escape from confinement, damage to jail or jail property, possession of a controlled substance and first degree property damage.

Gregory Bray Hambelton had his plea or trial setting continued to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 19. Because Hambelton has no current attorney, he was ordered to get an attorney before his next court appearance. Hambelton is charged with first degree harassment, second degree territory threat, fourth degree domestic assault, driving with revoked license, first degree trespassing and fourth degree domestic assault.

Robert C. Hudson had his plea or trial setting continued to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 19. Hudson is charged with first degree harassment, possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia with prior drug offense.

Continued to March 5

David L Bradberry II had is plea or trial setting to 9 a.m. March 5. According to Pipkins an offer has been made “but a few things have happened in jail that may have a bearing on the case.” Bradberry is charged with possession of a controlled substance, delivery or possession of a controlled substance at a county, private jail or correctional center except with a prescription. He is currently being held in the Ozark County Jail. 

Continued to March 19

Matthew N. Collins’ plea or trial setting was rescheduled to 1:30 p.m. March 19. He is charged with possession, unlawful use of a weapon by possessing a weapon and a felony controlled substance, and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia - prior drug offense. 

Continued to April 9

A plea or trial setting for Sandra Coons is continued to 9 a.m. April 9. She is charged with second degree assault on a special victim and abuse of elderly, disabled or vulnerable person.

A plea or trial setting for Logan Dakota Johnson is continued to 9 a.m. April 9. A plea agreement was extended to Johnson and he needed time to consider the offer. Johnson is charged with resisting arrest, detention or stop by fleeing and creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death to any person.