Newton County Circuit Court Judge Jacob Skouby issued an arrest warrant for Joplin dentist John Joseph II today, after the Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed drug trafficking charges against Joseph this morning.
Skouby set bond at $10,000 cash or surety.
Arrest warrants were also issued for Kenneth Heistand, 66, and Kayla M. Hayes, 34, both of Joplin, for their roles in the same alleged fentanyl deal.
Further details of the deal were provided in Heistand's probable cause statement:
On 03/05/2025 Detectives with the Joplin Police Department FLEX Platoon arrested Kenneth Heistand for Trafficking in the1st Degree and Felony Resisting Arrest.The Joplin Police Department FLEX Platoon recently opened a narcotics investigation into Kenneth Heistand for trafficking in the 1st degree and felony resisting arrest.
On 03/05/2025 detectives observed Kenneth leave his recreational vehicle that was parked at Pilot Travel Center. Kenneth was operating his tan 2006 Ford Explorer. Kenneth then traveled to Kum and Go where he meet with another subject {John Joseph). This was also observed by me. The other subject approached the window on Kenneth's vehicle.
Kenneth then exchanged a latex balloon item filled with a white rock-like substance I believe to be fentanyl through my training and experience, the facts of the investigation and my current position, through his window to the other subject.
I then approached the two on foot. I announced, "POLICE. STOP" as I approached. I was also wearing my department-issued vest that clearly states "Police" on the front and back of it.
{Joseph} was detained and the suspected fentanyl was seized.
While detaining {Joseph}, Kenneth fled the scene at a high rate of speed in the Ford Explorer. Kenneth was then met trying to leave the lot by another detective who had their emergency lights and sirens activated. Kenneth then reversed to exit through the other side of the lot at a high rate of speed. Kenneth was eventually "boxed in" by detectives, he eventually surrendered and was taken into custody.
A subsequent search warrant was served on Kenneth's recreational vehicle. The vehicle is a 2001 Newmar Mountain Aire recreational vehicle.
During the hand search of the recreational vehicle, detectives located a large piece of aluminum foil {that} contained the same white rock-like substance believed to be fentanyl. This substance weighed 5.47 grams. This was located lying on the stove of the RV. Next to the aluminum foil was a plastic bag. This bag contained a white crystal-like substance. This substance is believed to be methamphetamine. This bag weighed 1.34 grams.
The latex balloon filled with suspected fentanyl that Kenneth provided to {Joseph} during the hand-to-hand exchange weighed 11.31 grams.
The probable cause statement for Kayla Hayes describes her handing an item to Joseph and having an item handed to her in return.
Judge Skouby also set bond for Heistand and Hayes at $10,000 cash or surety.
3 comments:
Luckily no one was injured or killed.
This time.
Heistand Hasn’t been out of prison for very long. Maybe 2-3 years. How is it he is allowed out on a bond? He has a lengthy history of drug trafficking.
https://casetext.com/case/state-v-heistand-3
" Defendant, Kenneth Wayne Heistand, was jury-convicted of first degree robbery, § 569.020, and second degree assault, § 565.060, and thereafter sentenced, after a finding that he was a persistent offender, to consecutive sentences of life imprisonment for robbery and ten years for assault.
Unless otherwise indicated, all references to statutes are to RSMo 1978, V.A.M.S.
On appeal, Heistand does not question the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the convictions. It suffices to say that substantial evidence was introduced at trial from which the jury could find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that on January 5, 1981, Heistand and John Sprous, wearing ski masks and coveralls, entered the United Health Center Pharmacy in Springfield, Missouri. Sprous was armed with a rifle. Heistand approached the pharmacist, Charles Cantwell, and demanded dilaudid, which is a controlled substance. When Cantwell was slow to comply, he was slapped by Heistand and shot by Sprous. His wound was not fatal, and Cantwell was able to procure three bottles of the drug, which he gave to the robbers through fear of force.
Heistand and Sprous were identified as the robbers by Candy Davis, a friend of Heistand's, who rented and drove the getaway car.
In his first point relied on, Heistand alleged that the trial court erred in overruling his motion to suppress as evidence a letter he had written his wife urging her to contact a friend to set up a false alibi, which action would have made her an accomplice to the crime of subornation of perjury. Heistand argued that the letter was a confidential communication between husband and wife by virtue of § 546.260, and was thus not admissible evidence. "
Post a Comment