Newton County Circuit Court Judge Timothy Perigo is the new judge in the case of alleged internet pervert Gary Reed Blankenship.
A new judge was needed after Judge Kevin Selby recused himself from the case last week, shortly after Blankenship's lawyer, Dee Wampler of Springfield, filed a motion for change of judge.
Blankenship, a former O'Sullivan Industries executive, faces charges of possession of child pornography, promoting obscenity, and enticement of a child.
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A change of judge was also granted in the case against former Carthage R-9 Board of Education member and Carthage police officer Michael Lloyd Wells, who is charged with violating a protection order.
Wells' arraignment will be held 1:30 p.m. May 10 in front of Judge Stephen Carlton.
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Ethics charges against former State Representative Bubs Hohulin, R-Lamar, were dismissed April 21 by the Missouri Ethics Commission.
State Democrats had alleged that Hohulin should not have received a contract from Governor Matt Blunt to operate the license fee office in Lamar, since he already receives $62,000 a year working for State Sen. Carl Vogel.
Two charges against Blunt were also dismissed, as well as two charges against Trish Vincent, the woman Blunt put in charge of the Department of Revenue.