Felonies filed for repeat driving without a license

Two individuals are now facing felony charges in Ozark County court due to repeated instances of driving with revoked or suspended licenses. While the charge is generally classified as a misdemeanor, in Missouri, it is elevated to felony level when it is the fourth or subsequent driving offense. 

Amanda Sue Roark, (born in 1986) of West Plains, currently has a felony charge of driving with a revoked or suspended license filed against her in Ozark County. 

That latest case involves a May 2, 2026, stop by Deputy Hunter Ryan on PP Highway after she reportedly left her left turn signal on for approximately one mile, which the deputy reports is improper use of signals. When asked for her license, she told the deputy she didn’t have one, according to the report. The complaint in her case shows that her criminal record elevates the charge to a felony level based on the following convictions: 

• a January 2013 conviction of DWI with alcohol in Howell County for an offense that occurred in June 2011;

• a December 3, 2012, conviction of driving with a revoked or suspended license in Howell County for an offense that occurred in October 2012;

• a December 2023 conviction of driving with a revoked or suspended license in West Plains Municipality for an incident that occurred in January 2022;

• a December 2024 conviction of driving with a revoked or suspended license in Howell County for an offense that occurred in September 2023.

She was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled to appear back in court in the case at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 29, before Associate Judge Raymond Gross.

Benjamin Hutchinson, (born in 1966), of Gainesville, also has a felony charge of driving with a revoked or suspended license filed against him. 

That case is in reference to a June 24, 2026, stop by Lt. Matt Rhoades and Deputy Gannon Moss on Highway 160 in Gainesville. In the report, Lt. Rhoades writes that he saw Hutchinson’s Jeep pass by with him driving, and he knew the suspect did not have a valid driver’s license due to past interactions. 

His documented criminal history includes:

• 2005 conviction of driving under the influence of alcohol (persistent offender status);

• a 2011 conviction of two separate counts of driving while intoxicated (persistent offender status) in Howell County;

• 2025 conviction of felony driving under the influence (persistent offender status) in Ozark County.

He was released on his own recognizance and is scheduled to return to court at 1:30 p.m. Aug. 25, before Associate Judge Raymond Gross.