Trials set, guilty pleas and not guilty pleas accepted
Circuit Court Judge Craig Carter processed 30 defendants during the March 5 session of Ozark County Circuit Court.
Charges of financial exploitation of an elder or disabled person and misdemeanor abuse of an elderly, disabled or vulnerable person against Patricia Anna Santos-Duvalier were dismissed. Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney Lee Pipkins told the court the charges will be refiled. Santos-Duvalier faces two felony charges in the associate court, including second-degree murder and first-degree assault. She remains in the Ozark County Jail.
Guilty pleas
Adam Bartlett pleaded guilty to the charge of resisting arrest, detention or stop by fleeing-creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death to any person. According to a plea agreement with the state, misdemeanor charges of operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner and two counts of stealing of less than $150 with no prior stealing offense were dismissed. Bartlett was sentenced to 5 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. He is also ordered to successfully complete long term substance abuse under RSMo 217.362 for chronic non violent offenders (see story below).
Sandra Coons pleaded guilty by way of Alford plea to second degree trafficking drugs. She was sentenced to 7 years in the Department of Corrections with credit for time served in the Ozark County Jail. Charges of possession of a controlled substance and two misdemeanor charges of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia was dismissed per the plea agreement. (See story below)
Andrew Wesley Lovelace pleaded guilty to felony DWI causing physical injury. He was sentenced to SIS and 5 years 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. Per a plea agreement, charges of leaving the scene of an accident with property damage exceeding $1,000 were dismissed. Charges against Lovelace stem from an incident on June 2, 2024, when Lovelace crashed on Highway 160 in Theodosia. (See story below)
Benjamin Hutchinson pleaded guilty to charges of persistent DWI. He was sentenced to 4 years in the Department of Corrections, SES, and 5 years probation with credit for time served. An SES, or suspended execution of sentence, means a defendant will be sentenced to a prison term but will be placed on probation and will not go to prison unless they violate the terms of that probation. Per a plea agreement, the original charge of aggravated DWI was lessened to the persistent DWI. Charges stem from a May 20, 2023, traffic stop on Highway 5, north of Gainesville. (See story below)
Darin Van Evans pleaded guilty to charges of persistent DWI. He was sentenced to 4 years in the Department of Corrections, SES, 5 years probation and ordered to successfully complete DWI court. Charges stem from a Sept. 27, 2024, traffic stop on County Road 103, locally known as Ballpark Road, in Gainesville. (See story below)
Not guilty pleas
David Bradberry II waived arraignment and formal reading of charges and pleaded not guilty to two charges of felony failure to appear. He is set for a plea hearing on the charges at 1:30 p.m. March 19. He also appeared for a plea or trial setting in two other cases, delivery or possession of a controlled substance at a county, private jail or correctional facility and possession of a controlled substance. Those hearings are also continued to 1:30 p.m. March 19. He remains in the Ozark County Jail.
Brandon W. Williams waived arraignment and formal reading of charges and pleaded not guilty of two counts of stealing $750 or more, stealing a motor vehicle, watercraft or aircraft, failure to register as a sex offender, second degree sodomy and second degree sexual abuse. He is set to appear at 9 a.m. June 4.
Larry Lavern Sanders waived arraignment and formal reading of charges and pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled substance and two counts of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia with prior drug offense. He is set to appear at 9 a.m. May 7. He remains in the Ozark County Jail.
Danielle Rosario waived arraignment and formal reading of charges and pleaded not guilty to possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia with prior drug offense. She is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. May 7.
Jury trials scheduled
A jury trial was set for 2026 for Austen Clouser with a pretrial hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 4, 2026. Clouser is charged with two counts of first degree endangering the welfare of a child causing serious physical injury and no sexual conduct, two counts of second degree assault, first degree endangering the welfare of a child creating a substantial risk and no sexual conduct and misdemeanor fourth degree assault.
A jury trial was rescheduled for the fall of 2025 for Jimmy C. Haag. A pre-trial conference is set for 9 a.m. May 7. He is charged with first degree harassment and second degree domestic assault.
A jury trial was set for spring 2026 in the case of Henry D. Parker with pretrial hearing scheduled for Feb. 4, 2026. Parker is charged with first degree child molestation, sexual abuse and second degree sexual misconduct.
James Reed was unable to appear Wednesday due to illness, said his attorney Bethany Turner. Ozark County Prosecuting attorney Lee Pipkins told the court that an offer had been made to Reed but no agreement had yet been made. Because of this, a jury trial was set for 2026 with a pretrial scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 3. Reed is charged in one case with unlawful use of a weapon by shooting at or from a motor vehicle at a person, motor vehicle or building, first degree harassment, armed criminal action, and misdemeanor second degree tampering with a motor vehicle. In the second case, Reed is charged with first degree property damage, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage exceeding $1,000 and second degree trespassing.
Continued to March 19
Kandace Newton appeared for a probation violation hearing. A warrant was issued for Newton’s arrest on March 3 for the alleged probation violation and she was incarcerated in the Ozark County Jail. When Newton appeared before the court on March 5, her attorney public defender Chase Opolka asked that she be released even though she has pending charges in the associate court. Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney Lee Pipkins said his only concern about releasing Newton what that “she be in treatment somewhere.” Judge Carter ruled that she could be released to long-term inpatient treatment. Her hearing is continued to 1:30 p.m. March 19.
Taylor French appeared for a probation violation hearing. French was screened for Drug Court and her attorney Chase Opolka asked that she be released from the Ozark County Jail in order to attend. However, since she has not yet been accepted Judge Carter did not rule on the motion. “If she’s accepted I will let her out,” he said. “I’m not letting her out until I know she’s in Drug Court.” Her case was continued to 1:30 p.m. March 19.
A plea or trial setting for Brandon Wayne Twyman was continued to 1:30 p.m. March 19.
A plea or trial setting for Miriah Christine Bennett was continued to 1:30 p.m. March 19.
A show cause warrant was issued for Matthew Demorest. His arraignment was continued to 1:30 p.m. March 19.
Continued to April 9
The probation violation hearing for Julia Ann Lesh was continued to 9 a.m. April 9.
The plea or trial settings for Timothy Kyle Sprague were rescheduled to 9 a.m. April 9.
A probation violation hearing for Andrew Brandt Clay was continue to 9 a.m. April 9.
A plea or trial setting for Michelle D. Mahler was continued to 9 a.m. April 9.
Continued to April 22
A plea offer has been extended to Trevor Van Mansker and the current trial scheduled for the end of March has been stricken. Mansker is now set for a plea hearing at 1:30 p.m. April 22. Mansker is charged with two counts of second degree burglary, first degree property damage, two counts of stealing $750 or more, and misdemeanor second degree property damage.
Continued to May 7
Trenton Strain appeared for a plea or trial hearing. A plea deal has been extended to him and he is scheduled for a plea hearing at 9 a.m. May 7. Strain is charged with second degree arson, eight counts of armed criminal action and seven counts of knowingly burning or exploding.
Michael L. Jones appeared for a plea or trial setting and a probation violation hearing. Both cases were continued to 9 a.m. May 7.
A probation violation hearing for Daniel Eric Johnson was continued to 9 a.m. May 7
Continued on probation
Theresa Bias appeared for a probation violation hearing. She tested clean on a urinalysis and was continued on probation.
Ener E Ek was continued on probation. Ek has been deported to his home of Belize.