One sent to prison, two given SIS/probation during May 3 Law Day

Circuit Judge Craig Carter processed a total of 7 civil cases and 31 criminal cases during the May 3 session of Ozark County Law Day. Updates in the criminal cases are listed here:

Given SIS and probation

Dawn M. Flanagan pleaded guilty to being an accessory to tampering with a motor vehicle. She was given a suspended imposition of sentence and placed on supervised probation for a term of 5 years. The SIS means that if Flanagan successfully completes the probation, the charge will be removed from her criminal record. She was also ordered to return the vehicle within 30 days to the rightful owner. 

Sent to prison for violating probation

Jeremiah D. Kowerduck, (see additional case, page 9) who pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary in 2018, admitted that he violated his probation. All of his 7-year sentences were executed, and he was ordered to serve the sentences in prison. 

Probation extended for violating probation

Julia Anne Lesh, who pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance in 2019, admitted to violating her probation. Her probation was extended for a year. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 9. 

Jury trial scheduled

Steven R. Caldwell, charged with trafficking drugs and five counts of unlawful use of a weapon (possessing a weapon and a felony-level controlled substance), appeared with his attorney. The defense filed a motion to amend the pretrial release condition of drug testing, but the judge overruled the motion. A jury trial was scheduled for Sept. 28-29. A pre-trial hearing will be held Sept. 6. 

Scheduled or continued to May 17

Cody Wadkins, who pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance in January 2016, appeared for a probation violation hearing. He tested positive for THC and benzos, online docket entries reveal. His probation was suspended and he was ordered to return for a probation violation hearing at 1:30 p.m. May 17. 

Dewayne R. Allen, who pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm (dangerous felon) in 2021, appeared for a probation violation hearing. He tested positive for methamphetamine, online court docket entries reveal. He was remanded to the custody of the Ozark County Sheriff and was ordered to be screened for drug court. The public defender’s office was appointed to the case. He is scheduled to return to court at 1:30 p.m. May 17 for a probation violation hearing. 

Jonathon Dean Miller, who pleaded guilty to manufacturing a controlled substance in 2018, appeared for a probation violation hearing. He was remanded to the custody of the Ozark County Sheriff pending his hearing, which was continued to 1:30 p.m. May 17. 

Michael S. Szabo, who pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance in March 2022, was scheduled to appear for a probation violation hearing but failed to appear. A show cause hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. May 17. 

Michael Turner, charged with delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to drive on the right half of the roadway and driving with a revoked or suspended license, appeared with his attorney. A motion filed to amend pre-trial drug and alcohol testing requirements was overruled by the judge. The hearing was continued to 1:30 p.m. May 17.

William A. Huelsenbeck, charged with statutory rape of a child younger than 14, appeared for a plea hearing or trial setting with his attorney. His hearing was continued to 1:30 p.m. May 17. The judge indicated that Huelsenbeck should have hired private counsel by that time or the case will be set for trial. 

Michael Jones, charged with possession of a controlled substance and stealing a motor vehicle, appeared with his attorney. The judge allowed Jones to be released with supervision from Court Probationary Services. The hearing was continued to 1:30 p.m. May 17. 

Jerry Joseph Chiasson, charged with stealing a motor vehicle, appeared for a plea hearing or trial setting. He had applied for the public defender. The hearing was continued to 1:30 p.m. May 17. He is to report to Court Probationary Services once a week. 

Scheduled or continued to June 7

Blake Dalton White, charged with rape, two counts of statutory rape and two counts of statutory sodomy, appeared with his attorney for a plea hearing or trial setting. It was continued to 9 a.m. June 7. His attorney filed a motion to amend pretrial release conditions, but the judge overruled it. 

Tiffany Bauer, charged with violating lifetime sex offender registry requirements, appeared with her attorney for a plea hearing or trial setting. The defense is having trouble contacting witnesses, the docket entry explains. The hearing was continued to 9 a.m. June 7, and the judge indicated it will be the final continuance allowed in the case. 

Peyton Brady, charged with four counts of driving while intoxicated causing a serious physical injury, driving while intoxicated with a person younger than 17 in the vehicle and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child, appeared for a plea hearing or trial setting. It was continued to 9 a.m. June 7. 

Matthew Wollin, charged with sexual exploitation of a minor child, two counts of domestic assault, two counts of armed criminal action, four counts of abuse or neglect of a child and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, had his plea hearing or trial setting continued to 9 a.m. June 7. 

Jody Weyrauch, charged with kidnapping (facilitating a felony, inflicting injury, terrorizing), three counts of domestic assault, three counts of armed criminal action, robbery, tampering or attempt to tamper with a victim in a felony prosecution and two counts of possession of a controlled substance, appeared for a plea hearing or trial setting. The docket report says that the victim in the case came to the hearing and testified before the judge that she wants to have contact with Weyrauch, who she is legally married to. She said she does not want to pursue charges and said victim tampering has not occurred. Therefore, the judge allowed contact between the two. 

Estevon S. Dockins, charged with assault (serious physical injury or special victim), two counts of armed criminal action, assault, unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm (shooting at a motor vehicle, building or person), appeared with his attorney. The defense and state agreed to the condition of being tested for drugs/alcohol once a week. The hearing was continued to 9 a.m. June 7. 

Dennis Edward Jonas, charged with trafficking drugs and unlawful use of a weapon (possessing a weapon and felony-level controlled substance), appeared with his attorney. The hearing was continued to 9 a.m. June 7, and the judge indicated it would be the final continuance allowed in the case. 

Austen Clouser, charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of a child (serious physical injury) and three counts of assault, appeared with his attorney for a plea hearing or trial setting. It was continued to 9 a.m. June 7. 

Scheduled or continued to June 22

Jeremiah D. Kowerduck, charged with statutory sodomy and child molestation, had his plea hearing or trial setting continued to 1:30 p.m. June 22. 

Eric Vandiver, charged with delivery of a controlled substance, appeared with his attorney for a plea hearing or trial setting. The docket indicates Vandiver is currently in the Missouri Department of Corrections, and a plea deal with a 15-year prison sentence is being offered by the prosecution in this case. The state has an additional charges it will file, the docket entry says. The hearing was continued to 1:30 p.m. June 22. 

Danny Batesel, charged with domestic assault, armed criminal action, burglary, resisting or interfering with an arrest for a felony and violation of an ex-parte order of protection for an adult, appear in custody of the Ozark County Sheriff after he violated his pre-trial bond release terms three times since the case was filed. The defense argued that Batesel amendment to pre-trial release conditions, but the judge overruled it. The judge said he would allow Batesel to be released on house arrest with supervision from Court Probationary Services including a GPS ankle monitor. The hearing was continued to 1:30 p.m. June 22. 

Charles David Cole, charged with assault (serious physical injury or special victim), first-degree assault, third-degree assault of a special victim, stalking a law enforcement officer or relative, creating a terroristic threat and first-degree property damage, had his plea hearing or trial setting continued to 1:30 p.m. June 22. 

Charles Leon Souder, charged with burglary and five counts of stealing a firearm, appeared with his attorney. The hearing was continued to 1:30 p.m. June 22, and the judge indicated it would be the final continuance allowed in the case. 

Sondra Clark, charged with second-degree murder in one case and failure to register as a sex offender in another case, appeared with her attorney. The judge allowed her to be released from custody on house arrest while living in Ava with her daughter. If released, she will be on pre-trial supervision from Court Probationary Services, be drug tested twice weekly and have no unsupervised contact with any children. The hearing was continued to 1:30 p.m. June 22. 

Tony L. Johnson, charged with trafficking drugs and five counts of unlawful use of a weapon (possessing a weapon and felony-level controlled substance), appeared with his attorney, who said he’d received discovery in the case that morning. The hearing was continued to 1:30 p.m. June 22. The judge ordered that Johnson is drug testing once a week while on pretrial release. 

Sharon Ashmead, charged with trafficking drugs, appeared with her attorney. The docket entries indicates that Ashmead’s other case filed in Howell County should be disposed of soon. The plea hearing or trial setting was continued to 1:30 p.m. June 22. 

Jeremiah Kowerduck, (see additional case, above) charged with domestic assault, had his plea hearing or trial setting continued to 1:30 p.m. June 22. 

No public information available

James Ruark, charged with delivery of a controlled substance and delivery or concealing prohibiting articles on the premises of the Ozark County Jail, charged as a prior and persistent offender, was scheduled to appear in court. Details on his case are currently not available for public view on Missouri’s online court record database; therefore, the Times cannot give an update.