Judge handles 18 Ozark County cases June 22

Circuit Judge Craig Carter processed a total of 18 criminal cases during his second criminal docket of the month, held June 22. Updates in the cases, if available, are listed here:

Plea, sentencing

Danny Batesel, originally charged with domestic assault, armed criminal action, burglary, resisting arrest and violation of an order of protection, appeared in court for a plea hearing. He pleaded guilty to count four, burglary, pursuant to a plea agreement with the state. The other charges were dismissed. He was given an SIS and placed on probation. The online court docket notes that “the victim has corresponded with the state and has stated she did not want to participate with the case.”

Probation violator gets 

SES, probation

Charles J. Simpson, who pleaded guilty by Alford plea to domestic assault in June 2020, appeared for a probation conditions review hearing. He was sentenced to 5 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The execution of the sentence was suspended, and he was placed on probation for a term of 5 years. The probation is to run concurrently, or at the same, as his former probation. He was originally sentenced to an SIS. The change from SIS to SES means that the charge will remain on Simpson’s criminal record even after he successfully completes probation. 

Court ordered detention

Michael Szabo, who pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance in March 2022, was scheduled for probation violating hearing.  He was given an additional condition of probation of court-ordered detention. He is to coordinate with the sheriff on which date he will surrender. 

Jury trial scheduled

James M. Ruark, charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance in a Douglas County case that was transferred to Ozark County on a change of venue motion, appeared for a trial setting. A jury trial is scheduled in Ozark County for Dec. 21. A pre-trial conference will be held Nov. 22. 

Scheduled or continued to July 5

Blake Dalton White, charged with rape, two counts of statutory rape of a person younger than 14 and two counts of statutory sodomy of a person younger than 14, had his plea hearing continued to 9 a.m. July 5. 

Jody Weyrauch, charged with kidnapping (terrorizing), three counts of domestic assault, three counts of armed criminal action, robbery, tampering with a victim in a felony prosecution and two counts of possession of a controlled substance, was scheduled for a plea hearing or trial setting. The prosecutor noted that Weyrauch will soon have new felony charges filed against him. The hearing was continued to 9 a.m. July 5. 

Jerry Joseph Chiasson, charged with stealing a motor vehicle, had his plea hearing or trial setting continued to 9 a.m. July 5. A non-compliance report from CPS was filed June 16. 

Tyler Hogan, charged with possession of a controlled substance, has his plea hearing or trial setting continued. The docket report shows that the prosecutor said there are new charges pending against Hogan. He is to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. July 19 for a plea hearing or trial setting. 

Scheduled or continued to July 19

Eric Vandiver, charged with delivery of a controlled substance, did not appear for a plea hearing or trial setting because he is currently in the Missouri Department of Corrections in another case. His attorney appeared on his behalf. The hearing was continued to 1:30 p.m. July 10. 

Charles David Cole, charged with assault causing serious physical injury to a law enforcement officer, assault, assault of a special victim, stalking a law enforcement officer, creating a terrorist threat and property damage, appeared with his attorney for a plea hearing or trial setting. Depositions in the case are complete. Pre-trial release will be allowed on a $100,000 cash-only bond. If Cole makes bond, he will be required to be supervised by Court Probationary Services and wear a GPS ankle monitor. The hearing was continued to 1:30 p.m. July 19. 

Sharon K. Ashmead, charged with trafficking drugs, did not appear for her plea hearing or trial setting because she was in the Missouri Department of Corrections in another case. Her attorney appeared on her behalf. A plea hearing was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. July 19.

Scheduled or continued to Aug. 8

John N. Wiggins, charged with failure to register as a sex offender, sent a correspondence letter to the court ahead of his arraignment. The arraignment was continued to 9 a.m. Aug. 8.  

Charles Leon Souder, charged with burglary and five counts of stealing a firearm, appeared with his attorney for a plea hearing or trial setting. His hearing was continued to 9 a.m. Aug. 8. The judge noted that it would be the final continuance allowed in the case. 

William Huelsenbeck, charged with statutory rape, was scheduled for a plea hearing or trial setting. The court ordered a sentencing advisory report in anticipation of a SOAP plea. He is to return at 1:30 p.m. July 19 for a plea hearing. 

Scheduled or continued to Aug. 23

Sandra Coons, charged with assault and abuse of an elderly person, appeared for a plea hearing or trial setting with her attorney. The attorney is to forward a proposed medical record protective order to the court. The hearing was continued to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 23. 

Sondra F. Clark, charged with second-degree murder in one case and charged with failure to register as a sex offender in an unrelated case, had her plea hearing or trial setting continued to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 23. . On June 7, a docket entry shows that Clark appeared in court and the judge approved her request to move to a residence on County Road 308 in Gainesville. She was ordered to have no contact with any children. The state objected, but the objection was overruled. 

Tony Johnson, charged with trafficking drugs and five counts of unlawful possession of a weapon (possessing a weapon and a felony-level controlled substance at the same time), appeared with his attorney for a plea hearing or trial setting. It was continued to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 23.