A Jasper County jury found a Carthage man guilty of murder, driving while intoxicated and drug trafficking in connection with the July 3, 2021 crash at 7th and Duquesne that killed former Missouri Southern State University professor Robert McDermid, 66.
It only took two hours for the jury to find Kenton C. Cowgill, 38, guilty, following a two-day trial in Jasper County Circuit Court.
At the time of the crash, Cowgill was free on $10,000 bond on a felony charge of delivery of a controlled substance after being arrested May 27, 2021, by the Ozarks Drug Enforcement Team.
The Jasper County Sheriff's Office arrested Cowgill on the same charge four days earlier, on November 14, 2017. He pleaded guilty September 17, 2019 in Jasper County Circuit Court, was sentenced to six months in jail, given a suspended sentenced and placed on probation for one year.
On December 15, 2003, Cowgill pleaded guilty in Joplin Municipal Court to driving under the influence.
Cowgill's lengthy criminal history also includes a 2014 conviction for unlawful use of a weapon after he hit his wife in the face, aimed a rifle at his father-in-law and in a struggle with him over the weapon, accidentally shot two children, a four-year-old and a two-year-old.
Cowgill was originally charged with three counts of domestic assault and armed criminal action, but under a plea bargain agreement with the Jasper County Prosecuting Attorney's office pleaded guilty to the weapons charge and was sentenced to four years in prison. The sentence was suspended and Cowgill was placed on supervised probation for five years.
A Joplin Police Department news release describes the events that led to the fatality crash at 7th and Duquesne:
On July 3, 2021 at 8:23 am the Joplin Police Department received a report of a male driver passed out in a vehicle that was blocking a driveway in the 800 block of South Rex Avenue.
Officers responded and located the vehicle and observed the driver was not conscious. Officers were able to wake the driver and found that he was showing signs of being intoxicated. While officers were conducting their investigation, the driver fled in the vehicle from officers going northbound on Rex Avenue.
While Joplin officers were attempting to catch up to the driver, a Duquesne Police Department officer was nearby and observed the vehicle fleeing and initiated a pursuit that went eastbound on 7th Street.
Shortly thereafter, Joplin Officers were notified the suspect vehicle was involved in a crash with two other vehicles at the intersection of 7th Street and Duquesne Road.
Sentencing for Cowgill is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. August 7.
7 comments:
Another failure by our justice system. We need a strict 3 strikes law. Some people are not ever going to learn a lesson.
Our justice system has become a joke. Please bargains, suspended sentences, unsupervised probation, etc...no wonder crime rate in this country has and will continue to accelerate..it's a joke.
We as Americans - Have to Start Realizing that Criminals and Crimes are getting Worse and Worse and We have to STOP FEELING SORRY AND SYMPATHIZING FOR CRIMINALS -
We have got to Elect / Appoint - Politicians, Judges, Prosecuting Attorneys, and Educate Jurors and the Public how to look at Criminals and Crimes and how many Get out of Jail Cards they are given. We have to get Tougher on Sentences and Impose the Death Penalty - Only 27 States have the Death Penalty and we need to Institute 3-Strikes Law - with Minimum of 25 to Life Sentences across all States.
Jails are just Revolving Doors - They go in and they come out way to quick and are ready to Plaque Society Again - Never Learning Anything - - Other than Plotting how to Commit their next Crime...
These Criminals don't Fear Jail - - They Relish in it - - Free Accommodations / Cloths / Food / - They Learn even more ways to Prefect their Criminals Acts for when they are Paroled or Released.
SO STOP FEELING SORRY FOR THE CRIMINALS AND START FEELING SORRY FOR THE VICTIMS...
To See How Really Bad our Justice System is - Kenton C. Cowgill, the Criminal in this Story has over 49-Cases on Case Net - - Yes, I said over 49-Cases on Case Net - - and Yet our Justice System - has Kept giving him - Slaps on the Wrist - - so he could continue his Years and Years of Criminal Actions - - - WE HAVE GOT TO STOP - ALLOWING THESE CRIMINALS TO SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY - THEY NEED TO BE LOCKED UP - -
We need Stronger Laws - Death Penalty, 3-Strikes You are Gone for Life - We need the Judges, Prosecuting Attorneys, Jurors - to do their Duty, to be Accountable, and Stop Making Deals and Stop Putting these Criminals back on the Streets to Re-Offend Again and Again and Again...
Our Judges, Prosecuting Attorneys, and Jurors - In Jasper and Newton Counties - Have to START DOING THEIR JOBS - - AND STOP ALLOWING THESE CRIMINALS TO RUN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WHAT IF THIS GUY KILLED YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS OR FRIENDS - - HOW WOULD YOU SEE THE LOCAL JUSTICE SYSTEM WHICH HAS GIVEN HIM OVER 49-CHANCES TO BE REFORMED - - - RIDICULOUS!!!
This is a win, not a loss. Glad to see justice in the conviction. Will be watching the sentencing.
This blog post has two different intersections as the location of the crash. Which was it? 7th and Main, or 7th and Duquesne?
That has been corrected and now reads 7th and Duquesne. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.
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