Several trials set and guilty pleas accepted

Seven defendants pleaded guilty during the Sept. 9, 2026, Ozark County Law Day.

Jasper F. Scribner, 82, entered a guilty plea to the class E felony of driving while revoked. He was sentence to SIS and five years probation. An SIS or suspended imposition of sentence means Scribner is placed on probation for a period of time. If he follows the terms of his probation, at the end of the probation period the court will close the case and they will not have a criminal conviction on their records. However, if he violates the probation, a full sentence may be invoked.

Bret Wayne Anderson, born in 1989, entered a guilty plea to the class E felony of failure to appear. He was sentenced to four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, SES and five years probation. An SES, or suspended execution of sentence, means Anderson will be sentenced to a prison term but will be placed on probation and will not go to prison unless he violates the terms of his probation.

Dylon James Powell, born in 2000, pleaded guilty to the class E felony of non-support with total arrears in excess of 12 monthly payments. He was sentenced to SIS, five years probation and ordered to make child support payments.

Samantha Johnson, 33, pleaded guilty to the class D felony of possession of a controlled substance and the misdemeanor charge of second degree endangering the welfare of a child. She was sentenced to SIS and five years probation on the possession charge and SIS and two years probation on the endangering charge. Both sentences will run concurrent. The misdemeanor charge of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia was dismissed.

Bethany Dawn Schaefer, 31, entered a plea of guilty for possession of controlled substances, a class D felony. She was sentenced to SIS, five years probation and ordered to successfully complete Serenity Pointe. Charges of the class E felony of unlawful use of a weapon by possessing weapon and a felony controlled substance and the misdemeanor charge of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia were dismissed per a plea agreement.

Troy A. Santacroce, 40, pleaded guilty to the class D felony of possession of controlled substance. He was sentenced to seven years in prison under a 120 day program. Two charges of the E class felony of unlawful use of a weapon by possessing weapon and a felony controlled substance and misdemeanor unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia with prior drug offense were dismissed per a plea agreement.

Millie Waterman, 43, entered a plea of guilty to the class D felony of possession of controlled substance. She was sentenced to SIS and five years probation. Misdemeanor charge of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia was dismissed.

Trials set

A jury trial is set in the case of Edward A. Britt for July 2027 and pretrial is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 9, 2027. Britt is charged with rape of a victim less than 14 years of age, forcible sodomy, second degree statutory sodomy and incest.

Robert Lawrence Marshall is also set for jury trial in July 2027 with a pretrial set for 9 a.m. May 5, 2027. He is now allowed to have contact with his children and the condition of the pretrial GPS was removed. He faces the charge of second degree domestic assault.

A jury trial was set for April 2027 in the case of Lashanna Lambert with a pretrial set for 9 a.m. Mar. 3, 2027. Lambert is charged with two counts possession of a controlled substance, unlawful use of a weapon by possessing weapon and a felony controlled substance, three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Matthew Tucker Trent is also set for a jury trial in April 2027 with a pretrial at 9 a.m. Mar. 3, 2027. He is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of controlled substance, unlawful use of a weapon by possessing weapon and a felony controlled substance.

Donna F. Smith is set for a jury trial in March 2027. Her pretrial is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Feb. 18, 2027.

Brandon Mills waived formal arraignment and reading of the charges and entered not guilty plea to possession of controlled substance. His jury trial is set for June 2027 with a pretrial date set for 9 a.m. April 7. Court found that the due process rights need to be protected for Mills and appointed the Office of the State Public Defender to represent him.

Patricia Santos Duvalier will be on trial in May 2027. Her pretrial is set for 9 a.m. April 8.

Pleaded not guilty 

Gloria N. McCoy waived formal arraignment and reading of the charges and entered not guilty plea to possession of controlled substance. She is scheduled to appear at 1:30 p.m., Oct. 21.

Johnetta Willard Jeun Parsons waived formal arraignment and reading of the charges and entered not guilty plea to stealing a firearm/explosive weapon/ammonium nitrate. She is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. Nov. 4.

Danial David Teconchuk waived formal arraignment and reading of the charges and entered not guilty plea to to failure to register as a sex offender. He is set to appear at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 21.

Dennis Atkinson waived formal arraignment and reading of the charges and entered not guilty plea to possession of controlled substance, driving while license revoked, unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia with prior drug offense.

Beth Ann Vonelling waived formal arraignment and reading of the charges and entered not guilty plea to first degree burglary, second degree harassment, first offense peace disturbance and fourth degree assault.

Kimberly Jean Morris waived formal arraignment and reading of the charges and entered not guilty plea to first degree harassment. She is set to appear at 9 a.m. Dec. 9.

Debra Kay Bryant waived formal arraignment and reading of the charges and entered not guilty plea to DWI-persistent. She is set to appear at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 21.

Jimmy Todd waived formal arraignment and reading of the charges and entered not guilty plea to possession of controlled substance. She is set to appear at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 21.

Jaivon Jerrell Smith waived formal arraignment and reading of the charges and entered not guilty plea to  stealing $25,000 or more/teller machine or contents, first degree property damage, teller machine more than $750, stealing motor vehicle/watercraft/aircraft. His bond was reduced to $25,000 cash and under the supervision of Court Probationary Services with GPS monitoring. He is set to appear at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 21. He remains in the Ozark County Jail.

Continued on probation

Ronnie Mabry was ordered to have an alcohol monitor for 120 days. He was continued on probation.

Jamie Diane Judd, Preston Mulanax and Aaron Lee Davis were also continued on probation.

Other cases

Eugene Collins Clayton appeared before the court as ordered. Judge Craig Carter noted that Design Your Life, the sober living program Clayton had been enrolled in, was disapproved for sober living. However, the director of Design Your Life appeared before the court and reported that the issues had been remedied. Judge Carter ordered that Clayton may be released to Design Your Life when a bed is available. Clayton is currently still in the Ozark County Jail and is set to appear again at 9 a.m. Nov. 4. 

Cases continued

Eight cases were continued to Oct. 7 with 18 set for Oct. 21

Nine cases were continued to Nov. 4 with five set for Nov. 18.

One case was continued to
Dec. 23.