Newton County Prosecuting Attorney asks for no bond or high bond for suspect in Joplin burglaries

 (From the Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's Office)

A Purdy man has been charged with two counts of burglary after two structures were broken in to on the south side of Joplin on July 27, 2022. 

Kevin Granger, 46, was charged on the two-count complaint and is currently being held on a warrant issued by Judge Christine Rhoades of the 40th Judicial Circuit. 

“It is important to remember that Mr. Granger is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” said William Lynch, Newton County Prosecuting Attorney.

 “It is true that he was sentenced to seven years of the Department of Corrections in Newton County in October of 2020 and was released after 12 months. It is disheartening that our state engages in a catch-and-release system of justice. The amount of resources wasted on chasing repeat offenders that should still be in prison is innumerable.” 

The charges contained in the complaints against the defendant is simply an accusation and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting these charged must be presented to a jury of the defendants’ peers, and all criminal defendants are innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. 

This case was investigated by members of the Joplin Police Department and the case will be prosecuted by the Newton County Prosecutor’s Office.

(Note: Prosecuting Attorney Lynch filed a motion asking for no bond or high bond for Granger, listing all of the offenses he has committed and for which he received only minimum prison time. The motion is printed below)

COMES NOW THE STATE OF MISSOURI, by and through William P. Lynch, Prosecuting Attorney, for Newton County, Missouri, and moves that the Court set a high bond, or in the alternative no bond, for the defendant, Kevin Van Granger, pursuant to Rule 33 and states in support thereof as follows: 

1. Defendant was charged with felony property damage and misdemeanor stealing on May 29, 2022 and given a summons in case 22NW-CR00976.

 2. Defendant was sentenced to 7 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on October 27, 2020 in case 20NW-CR01249-01 for one count of Burglary in the Second Degree and two counts of Felony Stealing. He was released by the Department of Corrections after twelve months. 

3. Defendant was sentenced to 4 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on November 19, 2018 in case 16AO-CR00060-01 for Forgery. He was released by the Department of Corrections after thirteen months. 

4. Defendant was sentenced to 7 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on May 17, 2016 in case 16BR-CR00159-01 for two counts of Felony Tampering with a Motor Vehicle as well as two counts of Forgery in case 16BR-CR00482-01 to run concurrently as well as one additional count of Forgery in case 16BR-CR00074-01. He was released by the Department of Corrections after three months. 

5. Defendant was sentenced to 5 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on September 20, 2011 in case 10BR-CR00756-01 for Tampering with a Motor Vehicle and Assault in the Second Degree. He was released by the Department of Corrections after fifty months. 

6. Defendant was sentenced to 6 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on November 15, 2010 in case 10NW-CR01193-01 on one count of Felony Receiving Stolen Property. He completed four months of this sentence before being sentenced in 10BR-CR00756-01, which ran concurrently. 

7. Defendant was sentenced to 7 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on May 19, 2008 in case 07NW-CR02104-01 on one count of Felony Stealing. He was released by the Department of Corrections after 16 months. 

8. Defendant was sentenced to 4 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on August 17, 2005 in case 05SN-CR00151-01 on two counts of Forgery, one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Tampering with a Motor Vehicle, which ran concurrently with 5 years sentenced December 16, 2005 in case 05AO-CR01150-01 on one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance and one count of Felony Stealing, and concurrently with 3 years sentenced April 17, 2006 on cases 05NW-CR00549-01 for Tampering with a Motor Vehicle and 05NW-CR01461-01 for Tampering with a Motor Vehicle and Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was released by the Department of Corrections after 20 months. 

9. Defendant was sentenced to 3 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on September 21, 2004 in case 04NW-CR00886-01 on Possession of a Controlled Substance, which ran concurrently with 3 years in case 39R020400863 on two counts of Forgery and also concurrent with 3 years in case 39R040400624 on four counts of Forgery. He was released by the Department of Corrections after 4 months. 

Defendant has been sentenced to a total of 74 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, 43 years, taking all concurrent time into consideration. He has spent 10 years and 2 months in the Missouri Department of Corrections, 4 years 2 months of that being on one case of Assault in the 2nd Degree. 

Based on the foregoing, the State of Missouri prays the Court set a high cash bond, or in the alternative no bond, in this case to protect the public and impose such conditions as to protect the public and for other such orders as the Court may deem necessary and proper.