Neosho woman arrested on meth trafficking, possession charges

(From the Newton County Sheriff's Office)

On April 29, 2026, a Newton County Deputy Will Weiser was on patrol in the area of 36th and Range Line Road when he observed suspicious activity. Deputy Weiser made contact with a subject in her vehicle in the parking lot of the Super 8 motel.

An open-air sniff of the vehicle was performed and K9 Loki hit on the vehicle.

After a search of the vehicle was conducted the following was located:

• Approximately 1 pound of suspected methamphetamine
• Small plastic baggies, indicative of drug dealing
• A digital scale
• $1,500 in cash
• Glass pipes, commonly used for the smoking of methamphetamine

The subject contacted with the vehicle is identified as Kiley McDonald, 36, of Neosho, MO.
Charges of Trafficking Drugs 1st Degree, a Class A felony, and Possession of a Controlled Substance, a Class D felony, have been forwarded to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Due to this incident, McDonald is being held on a federal parole violation.

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information about illegal drugs in our communities to call 417-451-8333 to report the activity.

Sheriff Matt Stewart

Juvenile suffers third degree burns, Lanagan man charged with child abuse

The McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed a felony child abuse charge against a Lanagan man who allegedly forced a juvenile to take a shower under water that was between 130 and 150 degrees.

An arrest warrant was issued for Trent Walker Ramsey (DOB 1995) with no bond.

From the probable cause statement:

On or about the date of April 24, 2026, suspect Trent Ramsey, stated, juvenile (name redacted) was in the shower, at their home where he watched {the juvenile} turn on the hot water, where Ramsey described the temperature of the water to be in between 130-150 degrees Fahrenheit.

Ramsey stated he wanted to teach the juvenile} a lesson and had him stay in the hot water until he was able to figure out how to turn it off. After {the juvenile} was able to turn the water off, hours later, the child was transported to a hospital where he sustained third degree burns to 40 percent of his body

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

Lockwood man, 41, charged with enticement of a child

(From the Dade County Sheriff's Office)On April 28, 2026, deputies with the Dade County Sheriff’s Office took
Shawn Russell, of Lockwood, Missouri, into custody as part of an
active investigation involving the enticement of a child.

On April 29, 2026, a Dade County felony warrant for Enticement of a
Child was issued. Mr. Russell is currently being held in Jail without bond.

This investigation was conducted jointly by the Dade County Sheriff’s Office and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force (SMCCTF). We appreciate the Task Force for their professional assistance and
cooperation throughout this case.

The Dade County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to protecting the children of our community. We take all allegations involving the exploitation or enticement of minors extremely seriously, and we will
continue to work closely with our regional partners to ensure these cases are thoroughly investigated.

All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

(Note: The Dade County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed an enticement of a child charge against Russell, 41, today.)

Barton County state audit shows problems, but no signs of fraud, abuse

(From State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick)

A review of governmental operations in Barton County is now complete and the final result is a "fair" rating issued to the county by Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick's report identifies several areas in need of improvement in the Barton County Collector-Treasurer's Office as well as the Sheriff's Office.

"The good news for the people of Barton County is our audit didn't find evidence of fraud or abuse, but we did find a number of areas where county officials need to do a better job of paying attention to details and complying with the law or meeting their obligations to provide adequate oversight. In particular there are a number of issues in the Sheriff's Office that have persisted over the years and need to be addressed," said Auditor Fitzpatrick. "I'm encouraged by the response we received from county officials and hope this means they will fully implement our recommendations to ensure these issues don't exist the next time we audit Barton County."

The report finds the county needs to improve its controls and procedures over the property tax system. The report notes the County Collector-Treasurer violated state law by failing to timely file the annual settlement or monthly settlements for the year ended February 28, 2025. Additionally, neither the County Clerk nor the County Commission adequately review the financial activities of the County Collector-Treasurer. The audit also finds the County Clerk did not prepare the back tax, land and personal tax, or the railroad and utility tax aggregate abstracts for 2024 as required by law.

In looking at the County Collector-Treasurer's Office, the report finds the County Collector-Treasurer does not have current written agreements with cities for tax billing and collection services, which is required by law. The County Collector-Treasurer incorrectly calculated county commissions and withheld incorrect percentages for county commissions for taxes collected during the year ended February 28, 2025. As a result, the county collected approximately $1,300 more than allowed in February 2025, which persisted throughout the year.

A review of the Sheriff's Office finds the Sheriff needs to work to maintain accurate commissary transaction records and reconcile these records to inventory purchased and sold, as well as establish procedures for charging and collecting sales tax on commissary sales. 

The Sheriff also needs to establish procedures to follow up on outstanding checks or ensure liabilities are disbursed in the Inmate Money bank account, and needs to prepare monthly lists of liabilities for the Sheriff's general bank account. The report also recommends the Sheriff work with the County Commission to improve the condition of the Law Enforcement Sales Tax (LEST) fund, which is in poor financial condition, and cease deficit spending in accordance with state law. The fund had a deficit cash balance at the end of 2024 and would have had a large deficit cash balance at the end of 2023 and 2022 without transfers from the General Revenue Fund.

Other findings in the report include the failure of the County Clerk to timely submit certified copies of the 2024 and 2025 county budgets to the State Auditor's Office (SAO) in accordance with state law, a mid-term salary increase for the Sheriff in violation of constitutional provisions and state law, and the lack of a records management and retention policy that includes electronic communication.

The complete audit report for Barton County is available here.

Joplin business owner pleads guilty to gambling conspiracy, money laundering

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

An Indian national pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday for his involvement in a multi-million-dollar illegal gambling conspiracy occurring at six locations in southwest Missouri.

Rahulkumar D. Patel, 41, a citizen of India residing in the state of Washington, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr., to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Patel admitted that he and his co-conspirators obtained approximately $7,696,085 in gross proceeds from their wire fraud scheme and illegal gambling businesses and then conducted various financial transactions for the purpose of laundering the proceeds.

On May 14, 2025, Patel was charged, along with eight other individuals, in a 72-count superseding indictment by a federal grand jury in Springfield. The federal indictment charges all nine defendants with one count each of participating in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, and operating illegal gambling businesses from July 1, 2022, to May 13, 2025. In addition to the conspiracy counts, all nine defendants were charged with at least one count of wire fraud, and eight defendants were charged with money laundering.

Through Patel’s guilty plea, he admitted that he and his co-conspirators ran illegal gambling businesses under the guise of internet amusement arcade games, skill game arcades, and adult arcades. Patel and his co-conspirators hired local employees to work in their businesses, which operated contests of chance, gambling devices, and slot machines in violation of Missouri and Federal law. There were four locations that operated in Springfield: Big Win Arcade #1 at 1928 S. Glenstone Ave., Big Win Arcade #2 at 1135 E. Commercial St., Spin Hitters at 838-840 S. Glenstone Ave., and Vegas Arcade at 615 S. Scenic. They also opened Spin Zone at 2331 E. 7th St. in Joplin, Mo., and Vegas City Arcade at 16585 Missouri Highway 13, Branson West.

Under federal statutes, Patel is subject to a sentence of up to 20, five, and 20 years in federal prison without parole, respectively, for each count to which he pleaded guilty. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Clark. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IRS-Criminal Investigations, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Joplin, Mo., Police Department, the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department, the Missouri National Guard Counter Drug Unit, the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center, the Greene County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney, the Jasper County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney, and the Johnson County, Mo., Prosecuting Attorney.

 

Department of Justice reaches settlement in case of Springfield landlord who sexually harassed tenants

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

The Justice Department announced today that the owners of residential rental properties in and around Springfield, Missouri have agreed to pay $250,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that the properties’ former owner and manager sexually harassed female tenants in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

“A home should be a place of safety, not fear and exploitation,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to vigorously holding landlords accountable when they use their power to violate the rights of vulnerable tenants.”

“No tenant should ever be forced to choose between their safety and keeping a roof over their head,” said U.S. Attorney R. Matthew Price for the Western District of Missouri. “Exploiting power for sexual coercion and retaliation is not only immoral, but it’s also illegal. The result of this case makes it clear that the Western District of Missouri will work tirelessly to hold accountable any landlord who violates a tenant’s rights.”

“The Fair Housing Act protects against sex discrimination precisely to prohibit this kind of vile and predatory behavior against vulnerable women,” said Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Craig Trainor at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “When landlords sexually harass their female tenants, they are not only violating the law but undermining the sense of safety, privacy, and security that the home provides. The Trump Administration will always stand with victims and hold perpetrators accountable.”

“Today’s settlement makes clear that landlords who abuse their position of power by exploiting tenants’ basic needs for housing will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Machelle Jindra with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Inspector General (OIG). “HUD OIG will not tolerate the use of housing as a tool for coercion, harassment, or abuse, and we will continue to work with our partners to hold offenders fully responsible.”

The Department’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri in March 2024, alleges that for over a decade, Jimmie Bell sexually harassed and retaliated against female tenants of rental homes he owned and/or managed in and around Springfield. The suit alleges that Bell’s conduct included making unwelcome sexual comments and sexual advances to female tenants, exposing and touching his genitals in front of female tenants, touching and grabbing female tenants in a sexual manner without their consent, requesting sex or sex acts from female tenants in exchange for tangible housing benefits like excusing late or unpaid rent or the opportunity to rent another home, and taking adverse housing actions such as initiating evictions or refusing to make needed repairs against female tenants who refused his sexual advances.

Under the settlement agreement, Defendants must pay $250,000 to former tenants who were harmed by Jimmie Bell’s harassment. Defendants must also make good faith efforts to have all retaliatory evictions against these tenants removed from public court records and credit reports; and Defendants must cease any ongoing efforts to obtain payments from former tenants who faced retaliatory evictions. Finally, the settlement agreement mandates training to prevent future discrimination, including sexual harassment, at Defendants’ residential rental properties. The Department’s lawsuit named Jimmie Bell as a Defendant, as well as Defendants Fourth Bell LLC and the trustee of Second Bell Trust, owners of rental properties that were managed by Jimmie Bell. Jimmie Bell died in February 2025 and his son, Mark Bell, was substituted as his successor Defendant.

The case was referred to the Division after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development received a complaint, completed an investigation, and issued a charge of discrimination. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Inspector General also participated in the investigation and assisted in the litigation.

If you are a victim of sexual harassment by another landlord or property manager or have suffered other forms of housing discrimination, call the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-800-896-7743 or submit a report online. More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at www.justice.gov/crt. This settlement is part of the Justice Department’s Sexual Harassment in Housing Initiative. The initiative, which the Department launched in October 2017, seeks to address and raise awareness about sexual harassment by landlords, property managers, maintenance workers, loan officers and other people who have control over housing. Since launching the initiative, the department has filed 52 lawsuits alleging sexual harassment in housing and recovered approximately $19 million for victims of such harassment.

Nine businesses pass Newton County alcohol compliance check, three businesses sell to minors

(From the Newton County Sheriff's Office)

On April 24, 2026, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, working in conjunction with the Alliance of Southwest Missouri and the Newton County Community Coalition, conducted alcohol compliance checks at 15 locations across the county. 

Out of 15 checks, 3 failed, 9 passed and 3 were closed.

Businesses that failed the compliance check:

1. C-Mart (21552 Gateway Dr, Neosho)
2. Dollar General (4943 Highway 43, Joplin)
3. Big Poppa Quick Mart (5302 S. Rangeline Rd, Joplin)

Businesses that passed the compliance check:
1. Dollar General (7185 Gateway Drive, Joplin)
2. Casey’s General Store (6867 Gateway Drive, Joplin)
3. Dollar General (2979 E. 46th Street, Joplin)
4. White Oak Station (5725 Highway 43, Joplin)
5. J&A Package (12640 Gateway Drive, Neosho)
6. Dollar General (12023 Highway K, Neosho)
7. Dollar General (17451 Highway Y, Neosho)
8. Dollar General (12951 Highway M, Newtonia)
9. Yesway (18078 E. Highway 86, Neosho)

Closed at time of check:
1. Hi Point Liquor & Smoke Shop (5211 S. Rangeline Rd, Joplin)
2. Clicks and More (150 Lentz St, Stella)
3. Quik Liquor (4949 Highway 43, Joplin)

The Newton County Sheriff’s Office is committed to ensuring that liquor sale establishments are complying with alcohol laws, especially the sale of alcohol to minors. NCSO encourages anyone with information about the illegal sale of alcohol to minors to call 417-451-8333 to report the activity.
Anonymous tips can be submitted on our website at https://www.nc-so.org/tip.html

Joplin man charged with arson, domestic assault

A Joplin man choked his girlfriend, set fire to bedsheets and threatened to burn the house down with her in it, according to a probable cause statement filed Monday in Jasper County Circuit Court.

The Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office charged Addison Earnest Younes (DOB 2004) with first-degree arson and two counts of domestic assault. Bond has been set at $100,000 surety or $10,000 cash. Younes' arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. May 20.

The probable cause statement says a verbal argument between Younes and his girlfriend turned physical with Younes punching her in the face and placing his hands around her throat. When another person attempted to break up the fight, Younes grabbed her and then pinned her against a bed with his hands around her throat.

During the altercation, Younes picked up a butane lighter. Younes lit the lighter up and began waving it back and fourth at V1 and V2. Younes stated he was going to burn the house down and burn V1. Younes lit the bedsheet on fire. V2 put out the flames.

When police arrived, the girlfriend had scratch marks and bruising on her arms, legs, back and had a faint abrasion her neck, according to the probable cause report, while the second alleged victim had "red marking on her neck consistent with finger outlines and.a scratch on her right arm."

The case was investigated by the Joplin Police Department. 

Sentencing date set for Joplin man for sexually exploiting live-in babysitter

A 4 p.m. June 15 sentencing is scheduled in U. S. District Court in Springfield for Joshua Stanley Miloszewski, 36, Joplin, who pleaded guilty December 18 to sexual exploitation of a minor and child pornography charges.

At the time of the federal charge Miloszewski was awaiting trial in Jasper County Circuit Court on statutory rape and statutory sodomy charges.

The federal charge came one day after a search warrant turned up a sex video with the 16-year-old girl.

From the probable cause affidavit:

On February 5, 2025, the Joplin, Missouri, Police Department (JPD) received a call for service involving the abuse of a child.

JPD Officer Arthur Brophy responded to Joshua Stanley Miloszewski’s residence in Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri, a location within the Western District of Missouri. Upon arrival, Officer Brophy spoke with a minor male (hereinafter “John Doe”).

John Doe reported that a 16-year-old female (hereinafter “Jane Doe”) lived at the residence with Miloszewski, who was confirmed to be a 35-year-old male. John Doe reported Jane Doe moved into the residence over a year ago after she started babysitting Miloszewski’s children.

John Doe reported that Jane Doe and Miloszewski shared a bedroom. During a cursory interview with JPD Detective David McGough, John Doe mentioned observing text messages on Jane Doe’s cellular phone that were sent to Miloszewski including a nude image of Jane Doe. John Doe described Jane Doe’s cellular phone as a blue iPhone 16 in a glitter phone case. 

On February 6, 2025, Officer Brophy and Detective McGough located Jane Doe at a residence in Joplin, Missouri. Detective McGough seized Jane Doe’s cellular phone, which he confirmed was an Apple iPhone 16.

Prior to leaving the residence, H.R. reported that Jane Doe had used H.R.’s phone to contact Miloszewski after law enforcement arrived at the residence. H.R. later responded to the JPD and allowed Detective McGough to review the messages Jane Doe exchanged with Miloszewski using H.R.’s phone.

In the messages, Jane Doe notified Miloszewski that law enforcement had taken her phone. Miloszewski told Jane Doe, “I told you to break it. {I'm f----d.” Jane Doe apologized and informed Miloszewski that she would not say anything to get him in trouble and that the “vids are on I cloud.”

Joplin, Granby residents killed in head-on collision on 175

Two people were killed in a two-vehicle collision 9:51 a.m. today on MO 175 two and a half miles north of Neosho.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a northbound 2005 Honda Element driven by a 58-year-old Granby man veered into the path of a 1997 Lexus ES 300 driven by a 41-year-old Webb City woman and the vehicles collided head on.

Newton County Coroner Ronnie Jones pronounced both drivers dead at the scene.

The fatalities were the 41st and 42nd fatalities this year for Highway Patrol Troop D.