Guilty pleas entered during OC law day

Four men pleaded guilty to various charges and three warrants were issued during the Sept. 24 Ozark County Law Day.

Guilty pleas

Albert Lee Stanford, born in 1986, of Isabella, pleaded guilty to three charges of the class E felony of driving while revoked. He was sentenced to SIS and 5 years probation.

Charges stem from incidents on June 7, 2024, June 12, 2024, when he was identified and arrested after being stopped in Theodosia by Lt. Matt Rhoades, and on Jan. 27, 2025, when he was identified at the White Oak station in Theodosia, questioned and arrested by Deputy Hunter Ryan. 

Randy Wilson, born in 1965, of Gainesville, pleaded guilty to the class D felony of possession of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to SIS, 5 years probation and ordered to successfully complete Howell County Drug Court. Charges stem from an incident on May 6, 2023, when officers responded to a call about a possible hostage situation in the Tecumseh (See related story, page 5).

Timothy Kyle Sprague, 36,  pleaded guilty by way of Alford plea to two charges of third degree domestic assault. He was sentenced to four years SES in the Missouri Department of Corrections and five years probation to run concurrent with all other sentences.

Charges stem from two separate incidents domestic assaults against his then-girlfriend in August and November of 2023 (See related story, page 5).

Samuel Miller, 38, of Gainesville. pleaded guilty by way of Alford plea to the charge of first degree harassment. In connection with a plea offer, charges of terrorist threatening and two counts of armed criminal action were dismissed. Miller was sentenced to SIS, 5 years probation and complete anger management classes.

Charges stem from a March 25, 2025, incident when he shot several rounds from an automatic weapon near his former workplace and sent threatening messages to several employees (See related story, page 5).

Probation extended

Betty Ousley, born 1960, of Tecumseh, recently successfully completed Ozark County Drug Court. Her probation was extended one year.

Probation was extended for Zebulan Jones, born 1979, of Forsyth, with the added condition of successful completion of Stone County Drug Court. He was released from the Ozark County Jail.

Warrants issued

A warrant was issued for James T. Young when he failed to appear for his scheduled court appearance.

A warrant was issued for Michelle D. Mahler when she failed to appear for her scheduled court appearance. 

A show cause warrant was issued for Jeffrey Lovell when he failed to appear for his scheduled court appearance. He is next scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. Oct. 8.

Cases continued

Ten cases were continued to 9 a.m. Oct. 8 and two cases were continued to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 27.

Three cases were continued to 9 a.m. Nov. 5. and one case was continued to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 19.

Seven cases were continued to 9 a.m. Dec. 3 and two cases were continued to 1:30 p.m. Dec. 17.