This blog features observations from Randy Turner, a former teacher, newspaper reporter and editor. Send news items or comments to rturner229@hotmail.com
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
Trial date set for former Carthage Parks director on stealing, money laundering charges
A March 2, 2026 jury trial is scheduled for former Carthage Parks Director Mark Peterson, who is charged with three counts of stealing and two counts of money laundering.
Five days have been set aside for the trial, according to online Jasper County Circuit Court documents.
A July 16 hearing has been scheduled for pre-trial motions or a change of plea.
I hope he tells on everyone who helped him. Carthage needs a good douching.
The new mayor and several new council members are huge Mark Din Du Nuffin people.
His plea will force a lot of people out of local politics, and may be explosive enough that they might have to call in someone to give mark the Hillary Clinton treatment.
He needs protected from being 86’d by the people who were involved with him
Mark and his family are good people and VICTIMS of a former city employee who knew how to weaponize the legal system. He should countersue to recover legal fees after vindicated.
I predict that when the infamous incomplete forensic audit is completed and Mark is allowed to give testimony, it will be found that the money was due him under his contract that Dagnan did not ever understand and charges will be dismissed. Dagnan is who should go to jail.
This will be a very interesting case. One side or the other of these Commentors will be eating crow. If Mark Peterson has a written and signed Contract - then Dagnan should definitely be held responsible for this debacle.
If these is No written and signed Contract - Mark Peterson - is Quilty - No Excuses - though his Actions of Multiply Bank Accounts - showing large deposits, frequent transfers between the accounts, and several large purchases of cryptocurrency - and No Accounting of this to the City - and the removal of $142,000 over 3-Years 2020 - 2022 is ridiculous - Plus here we have a City a Bureaucratic Government (Taxpayer' Money) and it takes 4-Years for them to Notice this much Money is Missing from these Carthage Parks Accounts.
The City Must have STUPID PEOPLE IN CHARGE AND NO CHECKS BALANCES OR NO INTERNAL AUDITING - THAT THEY DO... The Question should be is Who Is Responsible for the Counties Accounting and Internally for Auditing and allowing this to happen for 4-Years??? WHAT IS THEIR NAME - THEY SHOULD BE FIRED FOR INCOMPETENCE!!!
Mark and his family are good people, but good people commit crimes. Money easy to get is money easy to take. When Derek became a council member, he stated he would abstain from discussions concerning his father. That hasn't happened.
I love the suggestions the investigation was flawed and Peterson is a victim. Does anyone really believe the trial lawyers with the AG's Office would still be working the case if they didn't have great evidence? He is not a victim of anything. Money laundering isn't make believe thing even if money wasn't stolen. He will plea out at some point.
If he actually had a valid written contract with the city that proved he didn't take any funds that weren't his then why didn't he show this to Dagnan and the auditors?
Another thing: If there was a valid written contract with the city, then the city would have had a copy as well. Why would the city and Peterson both hide a valid written contract?
It just doesn't make very much sense to think that the Jasper County Prosecotor's Office filed these charges if they didn't think they could prove the crimes had been committed.
Then the state took over the prosecution, unlikely they volunteered to take over and run a loser case.
Prediction: Before this goes to trial there will be a guilty plea to at least one felony charge.
The Recent Cases in both Newton and Jasper County where People have Embezzled and Stole from several Non-Profits - Not One was required to do any Jail Time - Can We Say - LET'S MAKE A DEAL!!!
His contract is readily available to anyone who cares about facts. As with many small towns, who want a PGA Pro, his contract allowed him to merchandise the Pro Shop and keep the profits. It’s IN his contract and not that uncommon. It’s difficult to steal from yourself! This is an absolutely clear case of Dagnan revenge, and why Rife has spent so much money to fight the Impeachment! He was the only one left to keep the scam going. It’s the exact same thing Dagnan did to Callie, at CVB, assisted by his puppet, Hawkins, and a weaponized Carthage Police Dept. She was charged with stealing “hundreds of thousands”, then $60,000, then “maybe less than $10,000.” In the end, the audit showed only $397 they couldn’t account for. And where did that $397 go? Embezzled by former Mayor Harris’ daughter Callie was trying to fire, for embezzling from the food truck events. That’s what got her on Dagnan’s wrong side. Added to the fact, Dagnan and Rife wanted control of CVB and CWEP, to control their reserves. You people need to wake up to where the true corruption is.
Try again "Anonymous 7:22"!! Callie Myers entered an "Alford Plea" in the case to get the charges reduced to a misdemeanor. Investigators say the city credit card she had for city business was used for clothing, food, a payment to her husband, a payment to her daughter, hair salon services, at restaurants, for a cell phone and accessories, and alcohol.
Court records show that when board members asked her about the purchases, she said they were for CVB use, but documents supplied to the city didn’t match that.
Authorities say the unauthorized purchases totaled more than $4,700, and there was an additional $3,200 in purchases with no paper trail. Also of note: the investigation was performed by the Missouri Highway Patrol, not the local police. So, according to you the conspiracy extends through MSHP as well. So, according to your logic, when it comes to the Peterson case, the Missouri Attorney General is in on the corruption as well. Good luck with that.
16 comments:
Here’s hoping he gives up names in order to avoid prison time.
I hope he tells on everyone who helped him. Carthage needs a good douching.
The new mayor and several new council members are huge Mark Din Du Nuffin people.
His plea will force a lot of people out of local politics, and may be explosive enough that they might have to call in someone to give mark the Hillary Clinton treatment.
He needs protected from being 86’d by the people who were involved with him
Well connected white men wearing suits seldom go to prison in Jasper County. Not even when they don't cooperate or take a plea deal.
Mark and his family are good people and VICTIMS of a former city employee who knew how to weaponize the legal system. He should countersue to recover legal fees after vindicated.
I predict that when the infamous incomplete forensic audit is completed and Mark is allowed to give testimony, it will be found that the money was due him under his contract that Dagnan did not ever understand and charges will be dismissed. Dagnan is who should go to jail.
This will be a very interesting case. One side or the other of these Commentors will be eating crow. If Mark Peterson has a written and signed Contract - then Dagnan should definitely be held responsible for this debacle.
If these is No written and signed Contract - Mark Peterson - is Quilty - No Excuses - though his Actions of Multiply Bank Accounts - showing large deposits, frequent transfers between the accounts, and several large purchases of cryptocurrency - and No Accounting of this to the City - and the removal of $142,000 over 3-Years 2020 - 2022 is ridiculous - Plus here we have a City a Bureaucratic Government (Taxpayer' Money) and it takes 4-Years for them to Notice this much Money is Missing from these Carthage Parks Accounts.
The City Must have STUPID PEOPLE IN CHARGE AND NO CHECKS BALANCES OR NO INTERNAL AUDITING - THAT THEY DO... The Question should be is Who Is Responsible for the Counties Accounting and Internally for Auditing and allowing this to happen for 4-Years??? WHAT IS THEIR NAME - THEY SHOULD BE FIRED FOR INCOMPETENCE!!!
Mark and his family are good people, but good people commit crimes. Money easy to get is money easy to take. When Derek became a council member, he stated he would abstain from discussions concerning his father. That hasn't happened.
I love the suggestions the investigation was flawed and Peterson is a victim. Does anyone really believe the trial lawyers with the AG's Office would still be working the case if they didn't have great evidence? He is not a victim of anything. Money laundering isn't make believe thing even if money wasn't stolen. He will plea out at some point.
If he actually had a valid written contract with the city that proved he didn't take any funds that weren't his then why didn't he show this to Dagnan and the auditors?
Another thing: If there was a valid written contract with the city, then the city would have had a copy as well. Why would the city and Peterson both hide a valid written contract?
It just doesn't make very much sense to think that the Jasper County Prosecotor's Office filed these charges if they didn't think they could prove the crimes had been committed.
Then the state took over the prosecution, unlikely they volunteered to take over and run a loser case.
Prediction: Before this goes to trial there will be a guilty plea to at least one felony charge.
Sometimes you wonder how gullible people can be, then you look at thinking like this.
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That's a cross examination prosecutors dream of!
It's no wonder CCU could win elections with an electorate chock full of Jaspers like 5:22 + 5:25!
"Mark is allowed to give testimony"
,That's a cross examination prosecutors dream of!
The Recent Cases in both Newton and Jasper County where People have Embezzled and Stole from several Non-Profits - Not One was required to do any Jail Time - Can We Say - LET'S MAKE A DEAL!!!
You tell'em PPPP!
Yep, can’t wait to see who else in Carthage is involved.
His contract is readily available to anyone who cares about facts. As with many small towns, who want a PGA Pro, his contract allowed him to merchandise the Pro Shop and keep the profits. It’s IN his contract and not that uncommon.
It’s difficult to steal from yourself!
This is an absolutely clear case of Dagnan revenge, and why Rife has spent so much money to fight the Impeachment! He was the only one left to keep the scam going.
It’s the exact same thing Dagnan did to Callie, at CVB, assisted by his puppet, Hawkins, and a weaponized Carthage Police Dept. She was charged with stealing “hundreds of thousands”, then $60,000, then “maybe less than $10,000.” In the end, the audit showed only $397 they couldn’t account for.
And where did that $397 go? Embezzled by former Mayor Harris’ daughter Callie was trying to fire, for embezzling from the food truck events. That’s what got her on Dagnan’s wrong side.
Added to the fact, Dagnan and Rife wanted control of CVB and CWEP, to control their reserves.
You people need to wake up to where the true corruption is.
Try again "Anonymous 7:22"!! Callie Myers entered an "Alford Plea" in the case to get the charges reduced to a misdemeanor. Investigators say the city credit card she had for city business was used for clothing, food, a payment to her husband, a payment to her daughter, hair salon services, at restaurants, for a cell phone and accessories, and alcohol.
Court records show that when board members asked her about the purchases, she said they were for CVB use, but documents supplied to the city didn’t match that.
Authorities say the unauthorized purchases totaled more than $4,700, and there was an additional $3,200 in purchases with no paper trail.
Also of note: the investigation was performed by the Missouri Highway Patrol, not the local police. So, according to you the conspiracy extends through MSHP as well. So, according to your logic, when it comes to the Peterson case, the Missouri Attorney General is in on the corruption as well. Good luck with that.
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