Joplin man held without bond for DWI, assault, property damage

A Joplin man is being held without bond in the Joplin City Jail on charges of driving while intoxicated, aggravated fleeing, second-degree assault and property damage.

Phil Burkybile III allegedly tried to run over a Joplin Police Department officer. The officer shot Burkybile. Burkybile's injuries were not serious and he was treated at a Joplin hospital.

From the probable cause statement)

On 12/17/2025 {a Joplin Police Department officer}was on patrol in Joplin, Missouri. He observed a green passenger car traveling southbound from W 26th St and S Main St. He estimated the vehicle's speed to be 100mph. caught up to the vehicle at E 50th St and S Main St and initiated a car stop using his
lights and sirens. 

The vehicle fled west on Glendale Rd at a high rate of speed that caused substantial risk to the public. The vehicle crashed into a ditch in the area of the 1900 block of Glendale Rd and spun around so that the front of the vehicle was facing {the JPD} vehicle. 

{The officer} parked his vehicle in front of the crashed vehicle, {and} stepped out to take cover behind the a-pillar of his patrol car, and called the driver from his vehicle. The suspect vehicle accelerated forward as if to strike {the officer} which put him in apprehension of serious physical injury or death. 

In response, {the officer} shot his duty weapon at the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle continued to 5002 S Main St, Joplin, Missouri, with {the officer} in pursuit. The vehicle briefly stopped in the parking lot of 5002 S Main before it attempted to leave the parking lot through a southeast entrance. 

{The officer} was pulling into the parking lot and the suspect vehicle struck the front of his patrol car, unit 2759, causing over $750 in damage. The driver of the suspect vehicle tried to accelerate forward, further ramming {the officer's} vehicle.

{The officer} called the driver from the vehicle again and he was taken into custody. The driver was identified as Phil Dean Burkybile.

{The officer} conducted a DWI investigation on Burkybile at the hospital and found him to be driving while intoxicated.

According to a Joplin Police Department news release earlier today, the officer who shot Burkybile has been placed on administrative leave following department policy until an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol is completed.

Earlier story- Joplin PD attempted stop of suspected drunk driver leads to shooting

MIssouri Supreme Court announces changes designed to improve public access to court documents

(From Missouri Supreme Court)

The Supreme Court of Missouri today acted to improve remote public access to case documents and provide greater clarity and uniformity in its application.

Specifically, the Court entered an order refining various court rules to:Streamline and restructure Court Operating Rule 2, governing public access to court records, and provide uniform vocabulary for terms relevant to redaction. 

-Specify the appropriate standard required for sealing court records in a new Rule 55.0275.

-Clarify what is “confidential” in a revised Court Operating Rule 4.24, precisely defining both “confidential record” and “confidential information.”

-Simplify redaction instructions and enhance the process for correcting redaction. 

Under revised Court Operating Rule 2.03 and Rules 19.10, 55.025, and 84.015:

Redactions will be limited to the defined list of “confidential information” and information that is sealed, expunged, or closed by statute or Court rule. No other information may be redacted without leave of court for good cause shown. 

A confidential redaction information filing sheet (or CRIF) no longer will be required if a redacted and unredacted version of the filing are filed at the same time. 

Transcripts of open court proceedings will not be subject to redaction requirements, although any party may seek to redact from such transcripts otherwise confidential information as identified in COR 4.24(b).

If a court finds a filer acted in bad faith – either by failing to redact confidential information or by redacting information that is not otherwise confidential without leave of court – the court may impose appropriate sanctions.

These refinements do not take effect until July 1, 2026, but they should provide helpful guidance for lawyers and the public now. Over the coming months, the Court plans to provide additional information to help ensure consistent and successful implementation of the rule revisions.

“We are proud of our ongoing efforts to ensure meaningful access to public case information,” Chief Justice W. Brent Powell said. “Making public case documents available remotely was a huge step forward. Since then, we have continued to evaluate how best to balance two equally important goals: making public court documents more accessible online and protecting confidential information in those documents. Today’s order will help lawyers and the public better understand how to achieve that delicate balance.”

Since the 1990s, people have been able to use Case.net – a web-based search portal – to find real-time public information about Missouri court cases. But this did not include the filings themselves. After electronic filing began in 2011, people could use computer terminals at courthouses to view public case filings. Since July 2023, people have been able to use Case.net to view, download, and print available public court records from their personal computers, tablets, or cell phones. 

But differences arose about what was, in fact, confidential, and best practices for redaction have been applied inconsistently. Through extensive review and examination of the rules and their practical implementation, as well as feedback from a variety of sources, the Court has sought to improve remote public access and redaction and to provide greater clarity and uniformity for those engaged with the court system.

“Throughout the extensive analysis we have undertaken, our ultimate goal has been to clarify the nature of confidential information and to simplify the redaction process,” Powell said. “We believe today’s order will result in better access to public court records while protecting any truly confidential information they may contain.”

Springfield business owner indicted for COVID fraud, money laundering

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Springfield business owner was indicted by a federal grand jury for fraudulently obtaining $316,062 in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and for laundering over $35,000 of PPP funds.

Jason L. Hemingway, 47, was charged with two counts each of bank fraud and making a false statement on a loan application, and three counts of money laundering.

According to the indictment, Hemingway applied for a PPP loan for his business, Principal Transfer Group, LLC on Feb. 9, 2021. The CARES Act established several new temporary programs and provided for the expansion of others to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Among these programs, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) authorized forgivable loans to small businesses to retain workers and maintain payroll, make mortgage interest payments, lease payments, and utility payments.

On his electronically submitted loan application Hemingway claimed that another individual was the owner of his business, Principal Transfer Group, LLC, and stated that the business had an average monthly payroll of $63,212 and employed 25 people, all of which were false statements. Hemingway signed the application in the name of the individual he claimed was the president and owner. Hemingway received $158,031 in PPP proceeds.

On April 8, 2021, Hemingway applied for a second PPP loan on behalf of Principal Transfer Group, LLC. On that application, again submitted under another individual’s name, Hemingway certified that he had received a previous PPP loan and that he had used the full loan amount for eligible expenses only, which was a false statement. He again claimed that another individual was the president and owner, that the business had an average monthly payroll of $63,212 and employed eight people, all of which were false statements. Hemingway signed the application in the name of the individual he claimed was the president and owner and received another $158,031 in PPP loan proceeds.

The indictment alleges that Hemingway used the PPP proceeds for non-approved purposes, including for his personal benefit. According to the indictment, Hemingway transferred $11,000 of the PPP funds into the bank account for another business he owned, 417 Print Shop, LLC, an additional $11,000 in PPP funds into his personal bank account, and $13,851.16 of PPP funds to his Robinhood account. Robinhood is a financial services company that allows users to invest and trade in stocks and cryptocurrencies.

The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require Hemingway to forfeit to the government any property derived from the alleged fraud scheme, including a money judgment of at least $316,062, and an additional $35,851.16 money judgment for proceeds derived from the alleged money laundering scheme.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the IRS-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Monett nursing home administrator indicted for fraud, lying to EPA

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

The former administrator, maintenance contractor, and company owner of a Monett, Mo., skilled nursing facility were indicted by a federal grand jury today for their roles in a conspiracy to impede the EPA, a related state agency, and OHSA, and violate the Clean Air Act regarding the removal of asbestos-containing materials.

Juan Carlos Aguilar Gomez, 45, a citizen of Honduras, residing in Lawrence, N.Y., who was previously charged by criminal complaint on Aug. 1, 2025, with one count of violating the Clean Air Act, was charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate the Clean Air Act, six counts of violating the Clean Air Act, and one count of making a false statement to a federal department or agency.

Rebecca Massey, 46, of Granby, Mo., was charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate the Clean Air Act, six counts of violating the Clean Air Act, and one count of making a false statement to a federal department or agency.

Goldner Capital Management, LLC (GCM), a limited liability company located in the state of New York, was charged in the indictment with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and violate the Clean Air Act, and six counts of violating the Clean Air Act.

“The Department of Justice, working in partnership with the EPA, will seek to hold accountable those who violate environmental laws, as evidenced by the charges returned today,” said R. Matthew Price, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

“Conspiring to violate our nation’s environmental laws to prevent exposure to the lethal dangers of asbestos is a betrayal of trust that puts the most defenseless members of our society at risk. By neglecting proper asbestos inspections and precautions, the defendants have not only violated laws but endangered the health of over 150 residents and staff,” said Cate Holston, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Missouri.

According to today’s indictment, in Dec. 2018, Gomez’s company was contracted to do maintenance and renovation work at nursing homes within GCM’s investment portfolio, including a long-term care facility in Monett, Mo. The services in their signed agreement included planning and overseeing all construction, alteration, maintenance, and repair projects at the facilities.

The facility provided senior and other assisted-living care to at least 67 residents and was staffed by approximately 80 employees between 2018 and 2021 and was owned and operated as part of an investment portfolio owned by GCM, which funded all capital improvements to facilities owned by the parent company.

As early as July 2020 GCM agents and employees, including Massey, began plans to renovate the facility, including plans to remove the existing linoleum flooring and replace it with new flooring. This flooring contained at least 6-12% chrysotile asbestos, was in poor condition and crumbled easily, making the tile a regulated asbestos-containing material (RACM) under EPA guidelines. The removal of RACM requires special handling and disposal precautions and procedures.

GCM, Massey, and Gomez were advised during the bidding process by other construction contractors and maintenance employees that the floor needed to be tested for the presence of asbestos and that an asbestos certified contractor needed to remove any flooring containing asbestos.

Despite receiving at least one bid from a reputable contracting company, which advised that the floors likely contained asbestos, no testing or asbestos abatement was conducted at the facility. Instead, GCM agents and employees engaged Gomez to conduct the proposed renovations. Neither Gomez, nor any of his employees were qualified asbestos abatement contractors, workers, or supervisors.

Renovations began around Oct. 2020 and continued through Jan. 2021. During renovations, Gomez and his employees used an electrical/mechanical floor stripper, other scrapers, chippers, and other abrading or grinding machinery to remove the tile flooring. This process generated visible emissions throughout the facility’s hallways, dining areas, and residents’ rooms. Additionally, Gomez and his employees posted no signs regarding potential asbestos exposure, erected no containment, used no water to mitigate visible emissions, had no decontamination units constructed, did not use negative air machines, and disposed of RACM waste in an unlined, unsealed dumpster that was sent to a landfill not authorized to accept RACM.

Massey, knowing that no asbestos analysis/inspection had occurred and that one was needed, permitted the work to continue even though as the Administrator she was empowered, and obligated, under law to shut down any operations that posed a health or safety hazard to the facility’s residents.

On Jan. 20, 2021, officials with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) inspected the facility and obtained a bulk floor sample from the hallway. MDNR conveyed to Massey that they were concerned that the materials contained RACM and that, if they did, the owners of the facility would need to evacuate the residents. Gomez told MDNR inspectors that he had no knowledge of the presence of asbestos or permitting requirements prior to their inspection, both of which were false statements.

The indictment alleges that on April 30, 2021, Massey falsely told OSHA inspectors that she was unaware of the renovation project involving the flooring prior to Gomez and his workers beginning work in Dec. 2020. She also claimed that she knew nothing about asbestos until MDNR arrived at the facility. Both were false statements.

The charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark, who was significantly assisted by former Environmental Crimes Section Senior Litigation Counsel Todd W. Gleason. It was investigated by the EPA – Criminal Investigations Division and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Boys and Girls Club of SW MO, Tasty T, Sam's Club Meat and Rotisserie fail Joplin Health Department inspections

Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Missouri, 316 S. Comingo Avenue; Tasty T, 101 Range Line Road and Sam's Club- Meat and Rotisserie, 3536 S. Hammons Boulevard failed Joplin Health Department inspections earlier this month, according to information posted on the department's website.

Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Missouri

Boys and Girls Club received a priority violation for not having sufficiently warm water in the handwashing station, rinse station and restroom hand sink.

Core violations were noted for an out-of-service milk-box cooler had a buildup of dried milk residue on the interior, for not having hand towels available at the handwashing sink and for having an accumulation of dust on the vent and filter covers above the hot wells and the food preparation surface.

Tasty T

Three priority violations and three core violations were noted at Tasty T.

Priority violations were noted for the following:

-Corn dog batter and ice cream mix were being cold held on the counter at room temperature for an indefinite period of time.

-Mouse droppings were seen in the dry storage room.

-A chemical spray bottle was stored on top of the food prep cooler.

Core violations were noted for the following:

-The three-compartment sink was rusted on the bottom corner.

-No hand towels were available at the handwashing sink.

-Light fixtures weren't working in the dry storage room.

Sam's Club

Sam's Club's meat and rotisserie section received two core violations, one for having floor and wall junctures not sealed properly in the chicken prep room and for having seals on the hood vent system above the ovens in the chicken prep area were in disrepair.

***

The following establishments passed their inspections:

Taco Stop, 1730 E. 7th Street

McDonald's, 2701 S. Main Street

Super Donuts, 1901 E. 32nd Street

Taco Bell, 2315 W. 7th Street

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, 4010 S. Richard Joseph Boulevard

Top Dawg Hot Dog Cart, (re-inspection)

Zanobia Grocery- Range Line Road

Island Genez Market, 2914 E. 32nd Street

Range Line Eagle Stop, 3504 S. Range Line Road

Road Ranger Convenience Store, 2101 S Prigmor Avenue

Sam's Club Retail/Dairy Deli, 3536 S. Hammons Boulevard

Hampton Inn Breakfast, 3107 E. 36th Street

Simple Simon's Pizza, 1522 E. Broadway Street

Stark City man charged with domestic assault, kidnapping, animal abuse

A bond reduction hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. December 22 in Newton County Circuit Court for Brett Adrian Mahurin (DOB 1988), Stark City, who is being held on a $2,500 cash bond after being charged with domestic assault, kidnapping and misdemeanor animal abuse.

According to the probable cause statement, Mahurin hit a woman over the head with a baseball bat December 13, then kept her from her phone and wouldn't allow her to leave to seek medical help.

Mahurin told the woman "he would burn her alive in the house" if she called the police.

The animal abuse charge came after Mahurin allegedly threw a puppy off the porch causing an injury to the puppy's rear left leg, according to the probable cause statement.

The case was investigated by the Newton County Sheriff's Office.

Joplin PD attempted stop of suspected drunk driver leads to shooting

(From the Joplin Police Department)

On December 17, 2025, at approximately 0406 hours, a Joplin Police Officer observed a possible impaired driver southbound on Main Street. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle on Glendale Road, and the vehicle failed to stop. A pursuit was initiated and the driver continued Westbound on Glendale. 

The vehicle then spun out and came to a stop facing Eastbound on Glendale as the Officer pulled up and stopped, exiting the patrol vehicle and giving verbal commands to the driver.

The driver of the vehicle drove at the officer and shots were fired at the suspect vehicle. The
suspect vehicle continued East bound on Glendale to South Main Street, where officers successfully stopped the vehicle at 50th and Main, taking the suspect into custody, after the suspect rammed a second officer’s patrol vehicle.

The suspect was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. No officers were injured during the incident.

Per department policy, the officer has been placed on paid administrative leave. The Missouri State Highway Patrol has been requested to assist with the investigation. Further details may be released as they become available

Newton County deputies arrest Diamond man for meth delivery

(From the Newton County Sheriff's Office)

On December 14, 2025, at approximately 4:00AM, a deputy with the Newton County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop in the 4200 block of South McClelland Blvd in Joplin. During the traffic stop, it was learned that the passenger of the vehicle, Raul Ulloa SR., a 66-year-old male of Springfield had active warrants from Joplin PD. Mr. Ulloa was arrested on these warrants. 

During the arrest, the deputy noticed a bag in the vehicle that contained a white crystal-like substance. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and the bag was retrieved from the vehicle. The white crystal-like substance in the bag field tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed approximately 15 grams. 

The driver of the vehicle, Bryan Houk, a 49-year-old male from Diamond was placed under arrest for Delivery of a Controlled Substance. A search of Houk revealed more baggies containing suspected methamphetamine as well as a large amount of cash. 

In total, approximately 22 grams of suspected methamphetamine was seized along with over $6,000 in cash. Charges for Delivery of a Controlled Substance were submitted to the Newton County Prosecutor for review and charges were filed on Bryan Houk. Houk remains in custody at the Newton County Jail on a $5,000 cash warrant. 

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office is committed to removing illegal narcotics from our community. If anyone has any information about illegal narcotics activity, we ask that you contact the Newton County Sheriff’s Office at 417-451-8000 and ask to speak to a deputy. 

Sheriff Matt Stewart

Dustin Perkins named Carthage R-9 athletic director

(From Carthage R-9 School District)

We’re excited to announce that Mr. Dustin Perkins has been named the next Athletics & Activities Director at Carthage High School, effective July 1, 2026, following the retirement of Mr. Mark Holderbaum. 

A proud CHS graduate with more than 22 years in education, Mr. Perkins brings deep experience as a teacher, coach, and administrator. 

He has served Carthage High School for the past 12 years as an Assistant Principal and has coached multiple sports across southwest Missouri. His background, leadership, and love for Carthage make him a natural fit for this role.

Please join us in congratulating Mr. Dustin Perkins on this exciting next chapter!

Passerby rescues 14-year-old from burning building at 7th and Pearl

(From the Joplin Fire Department)

At approximately 7:52 am, Joplin 911 dispatchers began receiving multiple 911 calls of a residential structure fire located at 7th and Pearl Ave. 

Initial reports also indicated that a 14-year-old boy had crawled out a second floor window and was standing on the roof of the balcony needing rescued. 

Prior to our arrival a passerby that had a ladder in their vehicle stopped and rescued the 14-year-old. 

JFD arrived within 3 minutes of the call and found heavy fire involvement at the back of the house with dark black smoke pushing out the front. Personnel aggressively attacked the fire and searched both levels of the house for occupants. 

The fire was controlled within 15 minutes of arrival and all occupants were determined to be out of the structure. One occupant was transported to a local hospital for smoke inhalation, no other injuries to civilians or firefighters occurred.

The Joplin Fire Marshal’s office investigated the cause and origin of the fire and determined the fire began in the kitchen of the home near the stove and accidental causes could not be ruled out.

The Joplin Fire Department would like to thank the citizen that stopped to assist the 14 year old off the roof prior to our arrival. 

JFD was assisted by METS ambulance and the Joplin Police Department.

This is the 15th structure fire the Joplin Fire Department has responded to in the past two weeks