NEWS RELEASES

On this page, you can find out for yourself about what is going on in the Barton County area.

Barton County Sheriff Mitchell Shaw reports that The Barton County Sheriff's Office on May 3^rd 2013 took a report of a Missing mother and daughter from the Lamar area.  The girls Names are Victoria M. Pilcher (David), age 16 and (Daughter) Anastasia K. David, age 1.

It is believed that the two could be in the Pittsburg, Kansas area.  It was reported on May 3^rd that Victoria and her husband (Zack) was having marital problems and that Victoria left from the home with the child.

The baby is believed to have medical needs and was involved with receiving physical therapy until here recently when mom left with the daughter. At this time there has been no information of foul play it's believed that the mother and daughter is staying with unknown friends.

If there is any contact with the mother or little girl please contact your local Law Enforcement or the Barton County Sheriff's Office.  Both Mother and Daughter have been reported missing and is entered as being missing

The Barton County Sheriff’s office conducted an
investigation into an allegation of a man having sexual relations with a child
less than 14 years of age. A report was given to the Barton County Sheriff’s office
in early February of the allegation. Barton County Deputy Vernon Ring
investigated the crime and also was assisted by an investigator from Jasper
County. It was reported that one of the incidents actually occurred in Jasper
County. At the conclusion of the investigation Wesley Allen cheek, age 18, of
Lamar was arrested for three counts of first-degree statutory sodomy with a
person less than 14 years of age. Cheek is being held at the Barton County
Sheriff’s office with a bond amount set at $100,000 cash or surety.

On Feb. 16th, 2013 The Barton County Sheriffs Office was contacted by Via Christi Hospital in reference to a accidental gunshot wound which had came into the emergency room.  Barton County Deputies went to the Hospital in Pittsburg to investigate the incident.  During the investigation it was learned that a 23, year of age male was doing some work on a small revolver pistol when it went off.  The incident occurred in the town of mindenmines.  The bullet struck the man in the hand.  The man was treated for his injuries at Via Christi and was released from the hospital. 

ON 02-12-2013 THE BARTON COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE INVESTIGATED A CASE OF SHOPLIFTING AT THE BLUE TOP DOLLAR STOP.  AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION SYLVIA DONNELL, AGE 63 , OF CARTHAGE, MISSOURI WAS ARRESTED FOR STEALING.  DONNELL IS STILL IN CUSTODY ON A 24 HOUR HOLD FOR INVESTIGATION AWAITING FORMAL CHARGES.  SHE IS BEING HELD AT THE BARTON COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE. ON 02-13-2013 DONNELL WAS FORMALLY CHARGED WITH STEALING.  HER BOND WAS SET AT 1,500 DOLLARS CASH OR SURETY.  SHE POSTED BOND AND WAS RELEASED. 

On 03-20-2012 Tonya Young, age 35 and Clayton Caswell, age 35 of Mindenmines where arrested for being in possession of a controlled substance.  The Barton county sheriff's office at approximatelly 10pm on the 20th served a search warrant at their residence for illegal narcotics.  At the conclusion of the investigtion the two where detained and transported back to the jail for processing.  The two were later released awaiting a lab analysis report of the substances found.   

On friday morning the 6th of April the Barton county sheriffs office recieved a complaint of a ford truck which had been stolen in the city of sheldon.  The complaintant and another party pursued two trucks one which was stolen from sheldon and a second which later was found to be stolen from Kansas City, Missouri.  When the trucks made it to the intersection of 71 hwy and DD hwy deputy Vernon Ring of the barton county sheriffs office intercepted the trucks and attempted to stop the truck which had been stolen from sheldon.  When the truck failed to stop a vehicle pursuit began.  The complaintant and other members of the barton county sheriffs office was able to take two individuals into custody there around the intersection of 71 hwy and DD hwy when the occupants of the truck which was stolen from kansas city got high centered and stuck trying to elude them.  A third unknown person fled in a northeastern direction on foot from the scene.  Deputy Ring who pursued the stolen truck from sheldon followed the suspect for several miles east bound on EE hwy and then down the county roads and even through a field off of northeast 75th ln.  The suspect abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot from the deputy.  The deputy chased the suspect to a nearby residence where the suspect once again tried stealing another vehicle.  Deputy Ring attempted to stop the suspect from fleeing in a second vehicle and sustained moderate injuries to himself during a altercation between Ring and the suspect.  Deputy Ring was transported to the Barton County Memorial Hospital for treatment he was later released.  Missouri Department of Conservation Agent Scott Brown and Sheriff Mitchell Shaw arrived just minutes after the altercation between Ring and the suspect.  The suspect had baricaded himself in the vehicle he had tried to steal from the residence.  The home owner assisted the Sheriffs deputy and parked a large tractor behind the truck so it could not be moved.  Brown and Shaw was able to get the suspect from the vehicle and take the suspect into custody.  The fourth suspect was apprehended sometime after 5pm walking on Ne 1st Ln south of the DD and EE intersection. 

On 04-24-2012 a Jasper County Deputy towed a vehicle which was disabled right outside of the city of Jasper for it being a road hazzard.  While with the vehicle the deputy observed what appeared to be copper wire which has been frequently stolen in many of our jurisdictions and the deputy made contact with the owner of the vehicle to try and investigate where the wire had came from and asked for permission to see where he was getting the scrap copper wire.  The owner of the vehicle took the deputy to his residence located in Barton County to show him where he had obtained the copper wire.  A deputy from the Barton County Sheriffs office responded and assisted the Jasper County Deputy at the residence.  While at the residence chemicals commonly used to create the drug methamphetamine was observed at the home.  Four subjects were taken into custody at that time for the attempt to manufacture methamphetamine and other drug related crimes. 

Those arrested was Kevin R. Nally, age 42

                             Randall C. Nally, age 46

                             Kimberly B. Smith, age 45

                             Melissa S. Osborn, age 27

Two other subjects fled from the residence on foot at the time the deputies arrived at the residence.  One of the suspects showed back up later at the home and was taken into custody by the Jasper County Deputy. 

The fifth individual arrested was a Brian R. Osborn, age 28

Also recovered at the residence was a stolen suzuki motorcycle which had been reported stolen out of the joplin area. 

At this time all of the subjects execpt for one have been released awaiting the results of lab analysis of the chemicals and illegal substances seized from the home.  Brian R. Osborn is still in custody due to an outstanding warrant for non-support out of Gentry County Missouri. 

On 04-22-2012 a fire was reported inside a building (hay barn) in the area of 126 Hwy and M Hwy in Barton County.  The Mindenemines fire department responded along with deputies from the sheriff's

office.   At the conclusion of the invesstigation it was found that a Mercedes car had been drove through the doors of a barn and the vehicle was intentionally caught on fire.  On 04-26-2012 it was found that the vehicle had been reported stolen in the Joplin area.  The Sheriff's office is requesting assistance from citizens of the county that may know of any informantion reguarding this investigation to please call and report it.  Your call can stay anonymous. 

The telephone number to get a hold of the sheriffs office is 417-682-5541 or 417-682-5515

you can keep your call anonymous.