Sixth judge assigned to Jalen Vaden case

Shortly after Judge Stephen Carlton recused from the Jalen Vaden murder case today, Presiding Judge David Mouton appointed his replacement and it appears there was one Jasper County judge left who is eligible to try the case.

Mouton assigned the case to Joseph Hensley, who handled the initial arraignment following Vaden's arrest.

Though he has handled this case, Hensley is still eligible because Vaden waived his preliminary hearing.



Despite that, it is expected that Hensley will also recuse himself, forcing Mouton to send the case to the Missouri Supreme Court, which will then assign an out-of-county judge.

The fifth judge, Stephen Carlton, recused today, citing a "conflict case," according to online Jasper County Circuit Court records.

The fourth judge, John Nicholas, recused Thursday, as did judges David Mouton and Gayle Crane earlier.

Vaden's attorney, Tracey Martin's motion to removed the first judge assigned to the case after Vaden was bound over for trial, Dean Dankelson, was overruled by Dankelson, forcing Martin to use her one automatic change of judge request.
Vaden, 23, Carl Junction, is charged with second degree murder and felony child abuse in connection with the December 1 death of three-year-old Jayda Kyle.

The child died at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City three days after she was hospitalized due to abuse that took place at her home at 405 Meadow Lake, Carl Junction. Vaden was the live-in boyfriend of Jayda Kyle's mother, Devyn Kyle.

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