Monday, June 05, 2023

Government asks for 10-year-sentence for killer of Joplin couple- after she completes state sentence

Citing a lengthy criminal history dating back to age 17 and continuing into her current prison sentence, the U. S. Attorney's office is asking for a 10-year sentence for Rita Michelle Glasgow on a meth trafficking charge- to be served after she completes her 23-year sentence for the meth-fueled traffic accident that killed Terry and Rhonda Copple of Joplin.

The Copples' deaths were among many reasons cited for a long sentence for Glasgow in a sentencing memorandum filed this morning in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

The memorandum also notes Glasgow was distributing a half-pound of meth per day in the Joplin area.








From the sentencing memo:

The defendant’s criminal history is lengthy and dates back to when she was only 17 years old. Since that time, she has amassed felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance (four), theft, trafficking in drugs, and DWI – death of two or more. 

In addition, the conduct surrounding her offense of conviction is both significant and concerning. For approximately one year, the defendant distributed one-half pound of methamphetamine per day to others in her community. 

Following her involvement in the instant offense, the defendant drove a vehicle high on methamphetamine and Klonopin, killing two individuals after running a stop sign. 

In the short period of time the defendant has incarcerated in the Missouri Department of Corrections (less than one year), she has incurred numerous violations for transfer of property between offenders, actions that threaten custody, and abusive obscene language or gestures. 

The defendant has been provided with numerous opportunities for drug treatment over the past 15 years – drug treatment that, if successful, could have prevented not only the death of two innocent civilians, but also her participation in the instant offense. 

While there is no “victim” in the literal sense when it comes to a drug conspiracy, the true victims in this case are the members of the community in which the defendant lived. 








The effects of the methamphetamine the defendant distributed during this conspiracy will outlast any prison sentence she receives, regardless of its severity. Methamphetamine indisputably destroys lives, families, and communities. 

The Government believes a significant sentence is necessary to promote respect for the law, provide just punishment for the offense, afford adequate deterrence to criminal conduct, and to protect the public from further crimes of the defendant. The Government is asking for a sentence of 120 months in this case, and is further asking that this sentence run consecutive to her undischarged term of imprisonment in Jasper County case number 17AP-CR01152-01 – an unrelated drug incident that occurred prior to her commission of the instant offense.

Glasgow's sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday in U. S. District Court in Springfield.

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