Monday, November 25, 2024

Noel man given suspended sentence, placed on probation for assault, stalking, tampering with a witness


A Noel man charged with assaulting, stalking and tampering with a witness won't be spending any time behind bars.

Matthew Wayne Rash (DOB 1990) pleaded guilty to the charges today in McDonald County Circuit Court, was sentenced to four years in prison for assault, four years for stalking and seven years for tampering with a witness.

Judge John R. LePage suspended all three sentences and placed Rash on supervised probation for five years, with the condition that he not go anywhere near his victim.







The sentence was issued despite Rash's lengthy record, which includes pending felony charges against him in Newton County, as detailed in the November 15 Turner Report:

The charges against Rash are not anything new, according to the probable cause statement in the domestic assault case. He was convicted of assault in 2010 in McDonald County, violating a protection order in 2012 in Barry County and violating a protection order in 2016 in McDonald County.

Online court records show that in addition to the alleged crimes committed by Rash against the woman, he is currently awaiting trial on two other felony charges in Newton County.

The Neosho Police Department arrested Rash on a felony possession of a controlled substance charge May 11, 2023. Nearly a year and a half has passed and Rash has yet to have a preliminary hearing. Online Newton County Circuit Court records show the hearing is scheduled for February 3.
Rash's other Newton County Case dates back to 2022 when the Neosho Police Department arrested him for driving while intoxicated.

The case was delayed four times when Rash showed up without an attorney.








On the fifth time, not only did Rash still not have an attorney, but he also failed to show and a warrant was issued for his arrest by Judge Anna Christina Rhoades with bond set at $250 cash only.

After Rash was picked up, he asked to have his bond reduced. Judge Rhoades denied the request.

Rash finally hired an attorney, but no hearings have been held since, according to online records. His next hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. December 16.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Our system is awful. That's all I can say. Speechless

What Could Go Wrong said...

Catch and release appears to be the thing sometimes!

Anonymous said...

The Name is - Matthew Wayne Rash - Not Matthew David Rash.

Matthew Wayne Rash is 34 and - HAS OVER 101 - Case Net - Cases that have been Filed On Him - How in the HELL did that Judge - John R. LePage, give him a Get out of Jail Card Free.

Here we go again - Another Worthless Judge, John R. LePage, letting another Criminal Back onto the Streets to Commit another Crime. Matthew Wayne Rash, has been given multiple opportunities to clean up his act, Probation and Slaps on the Wrist - Yet again - he is let out and lose on Society. He is a Persistent Offender -

Judge, John R. LePage - Needs to be Recalled - He has a Questionable career of being Soft on Criminals. Does this Judge owe, Matthew Wayne Rash or his Family something - Again, over 101 Court Cases and he is only 34-Years Old??? Something does not smell right - Lucy!!!

Anonymous said...

The Name is - Matthew Wayne Rash - Not Matthew David Rash.