Court News
In this Ozark County Times file photo, Robert Peat Jr. stands with his attorney, special public defender James R. Hayes, before Ozark County Circuit Judge Craig Carter at his Sept. 26, 2017, arraignment on murder charges. Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney John Garrabrant is seated behind them, and behind Garrabrant are Minnesota residents Tamile Leckie-Montague, adoptive mother of murder victim Savannah Leckie, center, and her fiance (now husband) Cary Steeves. With them is victim's advocate Nicole Graham, left. In a surprising turn of events last week, a Greene County judge released Peat from custody on his own recognizance, with GPS monitoring by Court Probationary Services.
Reed: 'What the heck just happened?'
Ozark County Sheriff Darrin Reed said Monday he was "as appalled as everyone else was" when a Greene County court ruled last week that Robert Peat Jr., accused of murder in the 2017 Savannah Leckie case, could be released on his own recognizance with electronic...
Patterson
Brandon Patterson, 34, of Tecumseh was sentenced June 27 by Circuit Judge Craig Carter to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Patterson had pleaded guilty on April 19 to the class E felony of animal abuse.During the plea hearing, Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney John...
The following criminal cases, traffic/municipal tickets and infractions were filed in Ozark County Court between Tuesday, June 19, and Friday, June 29. All those charged are presumed innocent pending final court action.Hunter Dale Rife, Gainesville, defective equipment. Ozark County Sheriff’s...
Circuit Judge Craig Carter processed a total of 14 civil cases and 29 criminal cases during the June 5 session of the Ozark County Law Day. The criminal cases for which online information is available are listed below.
Cases to reach disposition
Clinton W. Dieter, who was charged with third degree...
Danny Joe Williams
Danny Joe Williams, 59, of Tecumseh, on June 7 entered a guilty plea to the class B felony of first degree child molestation. The case, originally filed in Ozark County, was moved to Wright County in 2017 in response to Williams’ motion for a change of venue, which was accepted by Circuit Judge...
The following criminal cases, traffic/municipal tickets and infractions were filed in Ozark County Court between Tuesday, June 5, and Monday, June 18. All those charged are presumed innocent pending final court action.
Matthew F. Hannaford, Brixey, statutory rape, and two counts of statutory sodomy...
Danny Joe Williams
Danny Joe Williams, 59, of Tecumseh, on June 7 entered a guilty plea to the class B felony of first degree child molestation. The case, originally filed in Ozark County, was moved to Wright County in 2017 in response to Williams’ motion for a change of venue, which was accepted by Circuit Judge...
This photo of Savannah Leckie was posted recently on Facebook by her aunt, Lisa Orn, to commemorate the girl’s 17th birthday on June 3. The girl’s biological mother, Rebecca Ruud, and Ruud’s husband, Robert Peat, face murder charges in connection to Savannah’s disappearance last year.
If she hadn’t died, Savannah Leckie would have turned 17 ten days ago, on June 3. Instead, on one of the days following her birthday, Ozark County Sheriff Darrin Reed and his deputies were back at the Theodosia-area farm where Savannah had lived for a few months with her biological mother until she...
This photo of Savannah Leckie was posted recently on Facebook by her aunt, Lisa Orn, to commemorate the girl’s 17th birthday on June 3. The girl’s biological mother, Rebecca Ruud, and Ruud’s husband, Robert Peat, face murder charges in connection to Savannah’s disappearance last year.
If she hadn’t died, Savannah Leckie would have turned 17 ten days ago, on June 3. Instead, on one of the days following her birthday, Ozark County Sheriff Darrin Reed and his deputies were back at the Theodosia-area farm where Savannah had lived for a few months with her biological mother until she...
Woodward
Dakota Woodward, 18, of Gainesville, is being held in the Ozark County Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond in connection with a Memorial Day high-speed chase with Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper J. Prater. Woodward is charged with possession of methamphetamine and resisting arrest by fleeing,...