Initial hearing for McDonald County teacher in statutory rape case delayed due to lawyer's "scheduling conflicts"

No one seems to be in any hurry to get moving on the statutory rape case against McDonald County High School science teacher Jolene Stark.

Online McDonald County Circuit Court records show that despite the charge being filed and a warrant issued for her arrest issued May 16, Stark's initial hearing has already been postponed twice after Judge John LePage approved motions for continuance by Stark's attorney, Jared Stilley, Joplin.

In both motions, Stilley asked for the delays because he had "scheduling conflicts.

Initially, the hearing had been scheduled for Monday, but Stilley filed a motion for continuance June 2 asking that it be delayed until July 2. LePage approved the motion Monday, the original date for the hearing, but the following day, Stilley filed another motion for continuance, asking that the hearing be moved to August 13, again saying he had a "scheduling conflict."

There is no notation that LePage approved the motion, but the hearing date is now listed as 10 a.m. August 13.

The McDonald County R-1 School District placed Stark on administrative leave after learning she was being investigated by the McDonald County Sheriff's Office, according to a post on the district's Facebook page today.

The investigation led to the filing of the statutory rape charge against Stark, who allegedly had sex with a student younger than age 17 between 2016 and 2018, according to the probable cause statement.

Stark is free after posting a $10,000 bond.