Tye Nicole Wells

A Chillicothe woman is facing a charge of Patronizing Prostitution following an arrest Thursday afternoon. According to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, Nicole Wells, 18, was taken into custody near the intersection of First and Hickory Streets.

She is being held in the Daviess Dekalb Regional Jail pending the filing of formal charges.

At the time she was taken into custody, Wells was out on $500 bond for a separate case.  She has been charged with tampering with a witness and tampering with a motor vehicle.  That warrant was issued on Tuesday of this week.  A Violation Report was filed today.  Wells is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in that case on Wednesday, May 29th at 9:00 a.m.

Press Release from the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office

On the afternoon of May 23rd the LCSO arrested Tye Nicole Wells, 18, Chillicothe, at First and Hickory Street in Chillicothe for alleged Patronizing Prostitution, class B misdemeanor in violation of 567.030 RSMO. Ms. Wells is now incarcerated in the Daviess Dekalb County Regional Jail pending filing of formal charges. We have informed Livingston County Prosecuting Attorney Adam Warren of the information and alleged bond violation(s) as well.

She is accused of drawing a swastika and writing the words “White Power” on the family’s driveway before throwing a Molotov cocktail at their home.

Cheek-Herrera faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted and a fine totaling $750,000 if convicted.

Press Release from the Unites States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri

 KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, and Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice, announced that an Independence, Mo., woman was indicted by a federal grand jury today for violating the civil rights of an African-American family by setting fire to their residence.

Victoria A. Cheek-Herrera, 33, of Independence, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo.

Today’s indictment charges Cheek-Herrera with participating in a conspiracy to threaten and intimidate an Independence family from exercising their constitutional right to reside in their home because of their race or color. It also charges Cheek-Herrera with committing a racially-motivated arson and with using fire during the commission of a felony.

According to the indictment, Cheek-Herrera conspired with others on June 26, 2008 to injure, oppress, threaten, and intimidate Larry Davis, Stacey Little and the couple’s minor children in the free exercise of their Constitutional right to occupy and rent their home in Independence, because of their race and color. Davis, Little and their children are all African American.

The indictment alleges that Cheek-Herrera discussed with others her desire to set fire to the home of Davis and Little, and that Cheek-Herrera and a co-conspirator drew a swastika and wrote the words “White Power” on the driveway to Davis and Little’s residence. Cheek-Herrera allegedly asked a juvenile acquaintance for gasoline then helped create a Molotov cocktail by filling a glass bottle with gasoline and inserting a rag into the bottle to serve as a wick. Cheek-Herrera and a co-conspirator then allegedly lit the wick and threw the gasoline-filled bottle into the side of the house that Davis and Little were renting, which set the residence on fire.

If convicted, Cheek-Herrera faces a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for one charged count of conspiracy against rights, a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for one charged count of interference with housing rights, and a penalty of 10 years imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence and a fine of $250,000 for one charged count of using fire during the commission of a felony.

Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney David M. Ketchmark and Trial Attorney Shan Patel of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. It was investigated by the FBI.

She was put on a 24-hour hold in the Pettis County Jail.

According to the U.S District Attorney’s Office, Jonathan Gilbert, 24, is charged with attempting to distribute child pornography over the internet.  He is also accused of receiving and possessing child pornography.

All of these alleged crimes occurred in September and October of 2011.

Press Release from the U.S. District Attorney’s Office of the Western District of Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that a Warrensburg, Mo., man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for attempting to distribute child pornography over the Internet.

Jonathan R. Gilbert, 24, of Warrensburg, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday, May 21, 2013.

The federal indictment alleges that Gilbert attempted to distribute child pornography over the Internet on Sept. 14, 2011. Gilbert is also charged with receiving child pornography over the Internet on Oct. 9, 2011 and with possessing child pornography on Oct. 20, 2011.

Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Marquez. It was investigated by the FBI Cyber Crimes Task Force.

Project Safe Childhood

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc . For more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

Trinette Peukert

The Black Diamond Museum and the Pear Tree Restaurant were destroyed in a blaze last November.  The remnants of the Pear Tree have been removed.  Peukert says they were waiting for good weather to take care of the museum.

Cleanup will start at 10:30 Friday morning and 8:00 Saturday morning.  Volunteers are requested to bring any useful equipment they might have.  Peukert said some people are planning to bring in dump trucks and trailers.

More information on volunteering can be found by calling (660) 773-5540.

Bricks from the old building are currently free to those who wish to load them up and take them.  Peukert encourages anyone with an interest to take care of it before Friday morning.

The work is expected to last no more than seven days.  Franklin Avenue, between 11th and 12th Street, will not have any through traffic during that time period.

Jeremy Brannon, 29

A Jamesport man accused of impersonating a Deputy Sheriff has been charged.  The Chillicothe Police Department arrested Jeremy Brannon, 29, on Wednesday.

According to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office, he allegedly persuaded a victim to give him at least $1,400, claiming it was being used to assist in an investigation.  Brannon is facing one count of Financial Exploitation of an Elderly or Disabled Person.

Brannon is being held in the Daviess Dekalb regional jail on bond of 25,000 dollars, cash only.  He has been scheduled for a preliminary hearing Wednesday, May 29th at 9:00 a.m.

Press Release from the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office

Information on a man arrested for alleged Financial Exploitation of the Elderly/Disables black B felony was made through an investigation by the Chillicothe Police recently. Today we received a Livingston County Arrest warrant for Jeremy R. Brannon, 29, Jamesport, for allegedly misrepresenting himself as a Deputy Sheriff and needed a Chillicothe resident to assist him in an investigation. Mr. Brannon allegedly persuaded the victim into giving him at least $1,400 dollars, which he did not intend to return.

Again the Chillicothe Police investigated this crime and made the arrest. I am placing it on our website as the allegations include the suspect portrayed himself as a Deputy Sheriff while committing a crime in Livingston County. Mr. Brannon does not nor has ever worked for this office. We are asking anyone with similar information or experiences to report that to your local law enforcement agency.

Mr. Brannon is currently incarcerated in the Daviess Dekalb County Regional Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bond.

Press Release from the Richmond Police Department

 On May 22nd, 2013 at 1:56 p.m. officers from the Richmond Police Department were sent to a residence in the 800 block of East Lexington Street in reference to shots fired.

Upon arrival officers discovered no one was seriously injured and the suspect fled the scene. Victims on scene were treated by ambulance personnel for minor injuries and refused transport to area hospitals.

As a precautionary measure the Richmond R-XVI School District was immediately notified of the situation to ensure student safety.

The suspect was identified during the on scene investigation and at 3:02 p.m. in the 200 block of South Camden Street officers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Richmond Police Department were able to locate the suspect where he was taken into custody.

At this time the case is still under the early stages of investigation and the type of weapon involved has not been determined.

The suspect, a 20 year old Richmond man, is being held at the Ray County Jail pending formal weapon and narcotics charges by the Ray County Prosecutor’s Office.

The Richmond Police Department was assisted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Ray County Sheriff’s Department.

Update (3:25) – Multiple KMZU listeners have reported a shooting on Lexington Street in Richmond.  According to the callers, the suspect shot at another person, then escaped on foot.  Sources say the shooter is in custody.  The injury status of the victim is not currently known, but medical response teams have been reported in the area.  The weapon used may be a BB Gun.  KMZU News is working to confirm this story.

The Richmond School District reports busses and students have been held due to an in-town emergency.  There is no direct threat to the students.

A KMZU listener has reported a car chase and possible shots fired in Ray County.  According to the caller, the incident may have started on Lexington Street in Richmond.

Scanner traffic indicates law enforcement is looking for a blue/gray 1993 Oldsmobile Cutlass with front end damage.  The driver may be armed.  It is not currently clear if the two events are related.

Anyone with information is encouraged to immediately contact their local law enforcement.

Williams will appear for a Counsel Status Hearing next Wednesday at 9:00.  He is being held on $10,000 bond.

Williams was also facing one count of statutory rape in a second, unrelated case.  He had been out on bond of $20,000.  That amount was reset at $50,000 on Wednesday.  According to the probable cause statement, Williams was found outside the bedroom window of a 13-year-old female by the child’s mother in June of 2012.  During questioning, the girl claimed they had sexual contact on multiple occasions.

The Highway Patrol reports Kindra Beatie, 38, of Independence, is facing charges that include felony possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) with the intent to distribute, felony possession of a controlled substance (fetanyl), receiving stolen property, and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.  Stuart Phillips, 33, of Kansas City, is facing one count of felony possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.

The pair was taken into custody around 10:40 p.m. and put on a 24-hour hold in the Lafayette County Jail.