Carter presides over 32 cases during Jan. 3 OC Law Day

Circuit Judge Craig Carter presided over six civil cases and 26 criminal cases during the Jan. 3 session of Ozark County Law Day. Updates on the criminal cases are listed here:

Warrant issued

Steven Long, charged in six different cases with possession of a controlled substance and seven counts of driving with a revoked or suspended license, was scheduled to have a bond review hearing; however, he was in custody at the Taney County Jail. A capias warrant was issued in the case. 

Jury trial scheduled

Noel Cole, charged with third-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child causing a substantial risk to the child as a second or subsequent offense (no sexual contact) in one case and resisting or interfering with an arrest for a felony in a second case, had his case set for a jury trial as a #2 setting on April 11-12. A pretrial conference will be held March 6. 

Continued on probation

Carrie A. Laird, who was convicted of possession of a controlled substance in July 2023, appeared for a probation violation hearing. She was continued on probation with the condition that she successfully complete the 44th judicial circuit’s drug court treatment program. 

Scheduled or continued to Jan. 17

Melvin Campbell, who was convicted of first-degree burglary and stealing a firearm in June 2020, appeared in custody for his probation violation hearing. He was remanded back into custody and the hearing was continued to Jan. 17. The court found that his due process rights are imperiled, and the public defender was appointed. 

John Wiggins, charged with two counts of failure to register as a sex offender in two different cases, had a case review scheduled. He was in custody awaiting the Department of Mental Health. The previous month the online docket says that all parties agreed that Wiggins needed a guardian and lock-down treatment. The attorneys are to forward the DMH order when they receive it. Another case review is scheduled for Jan. 17. 

Michael L. Jones, charged with stealing a vehicle and possession of a controlled substance, asked for a continuance in his case for a scheduled plea hearing or trial setting. The case was continued to Jan. 17. 

Mary F. Polen, charged with possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia for methamphetamine and keeping or maintaining a public nuisance, appeared with her attorney. She was drug tested and tested positive for oxycodone, the online docket says. She is ordered to spend seven days in the Ozark County Jail as as shock sentence for the probation violation and be screened for drug court. Her plea hearing or trial setting was continued to Jan. 17. The docket says this was the final continuance in the case. 

Scheduled or continued to Feb. 7

Michael Strickland, who was convicted of second-degree burglary in May 2018, appeared for a probation violation hearing. He was ordered to be admitted into the 44th judicial circuit drug court program by his next appearance of he will do prison time, the online docket says. He is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 7. 

Timothy Kyle Sprague, who was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in July 2020, appeared with his attorney. The online docket says that Sprague has two new pending domestic assault charges, which is a violation of his probation. He was remanded to the custody of the Ozark County Sheriff pending his next probation violation hearing, which was scheduled for Feb. 7. 

Brian E. Mottus, charged with unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance in one case and operating a vehicle on a highway without a valid license in another case, had his plea hearing or trial setting continued to Feb. 7. 

Michelle Wilcox, who was convicted of possession of a controlled substance in October 2021, appeared for a case review based upon a former probation violation report. The online docket says that Wilcox has not been accepted into the Turning Leaf addiction recovery program because there have been no open spots in the program. Another case review was scheduled for Feb. 7. 

Linda Schwalm, charged with possession of a controlled substance, keeping or maintaining a public nuisance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia with a prior drug offense, had a plea hearing or trial setting scheduled; however, she was in Douglas County Jail awaiting entrance into an in-patient drug treatment program. The hearing was continued to Feb. 7. 

Scheduled or continued to Feb. 21

Eric Vandiver, charged with delivery of a controlled substance in one case and second-degree burglary and stealing (fourth or subsequent stealing offense within 10 years), was arraigned and had his plea hearing or trial setting continued to Feb. 21. 

William T. Chamberlain, charged with possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, appeared for a bond review hearing with his attorney. He was continued on bond release with the additional condition that he successfully complete drug court. He is scheduled to return to court Feb. 21.

Scheduled/continued to March 6

Mark Kenneth Lowry, who was convicted of second-degree domestic assault in May 2022, appeared in custody. He was released with supervision ordered by the Missouri Department of Probation and Parole. A case review was scheduled for March 6. 

Scheduled or continued to May 1

Charles Leon Souder, charged with first-degree burglary and five counts of stealing a firearm, had a pre-trial conference. The online docket says that Souder has a terminal diagnosis. His Feb. 1-2 trial was stricken from the court’s calendar. A case review is scheduled for May 1. 

No public information available

Brittany N. Davis, probation conditions review hearing.