Missouri becomes first state to fully exempt capital gains from taxation

(From Missouri Department of Revenue)

Missouri House Bill 594 (HB 594), recently signed into law by Governor Mike Kehoe, is landmark legislation that eliminates tax on capital gains for individuals and provides a path for corporations in Missouri to do so, as well. This bill makes Missouri the first state in the nation to completely exempt such tax for individual filers.

“The department is already preparing for next year’s tax season and we are making the adjustments required to accommodate this and other new laws that affect taxpayers,” Director of Revenue Trish Vincent said. “It is always a good thing when we can implement changes that put more money back into the pockets of hardworking Missouri citizens.”

The key provisions in HB 594 are outlined below:For Individuals: Effective January 1, 2025, individuals can deduct 100% of all capital gains reported for federal income tax purposes when calculating their Missouri adjusted gross income. This applies to both short-term and long-term capital gains from assets such as stocks, real estate, and cryptocurrency.

For Corporations: Corporations can deduct 100% of capital gains from their federal taxable income when the top individual income tax rate in Missouri falls to 4.5% or lower. The corporate subtraction will take effect in the tax year following the year in which this rate reduction occurs. For 2025, the top individual income tax rate is 4.7%, meaning corporations will not be eligible for the deduction in tax year 2025.

Tax preparers may want to review client withholdings and adjust them downward if clients are expected to be affected by this new subtraction.

Former Neosho R-5 counselor sentenced to five years for statutory rape

Former Neosho R-5 counselor Jacob Oakes was sentenced to five years in prison during a hearing this afternoon in Newton County Circuit Court.

Oakes, 41, pleaded guilty June 23. Oakes was sentenced by Judge Jacob Skouby for the statutory rape of a 14-year-old girl in 2021 and on other occasions, up through March 2024, according to the complaint.

The girl's mother had left her at Oakes' home, while she was seeking medical treatment for one of the girl's siblings.

From the probable cause statement:

Vl (Victim 1) disclosed that her mother left her in the care of Jacob Oakes and was gone seeking medical treatment for one of her siblings. Vl disclosed that Jacob Oakes called her into his bedroom located in rural Neosho MO in Newton County.

Vl disclosed that Oakes started kissing her and they took their clothing off. Vl disclosed that they got into bed, and he {had sex with her.} {She} disclosed that after the sexual intercourse was over, she slept in Oakes' bed with him the rest of the night.

{She} disclosed that this has happened several times since then including at least one time in 2024. {She} disclosed that every time Jacob Oakes would have sex with her it would be either in his house or on his property.

I spoke to Vl 's mother and she told me that in the summertime of 2021 she did leave Vl with Jacob Oakes so she could take another child for a medical treatment.

Cole County judge denies request to freeze Missouri private-school voucher payments

By Annelise Hanshaw

Missouri Independent 

The Missouri State Treasurer’s Office can continue to subsidize private-school scholarships from a $51 million allotment of state revenue while a lawsuit challenging the fund’s constitutionality makes its way through the system, Cole County Circuit Court Judge Brian Stumpe ruled Monday morning.

Stumpe rejected arguments by the Missouri branch of the National Education Association that the flow of funds should be stopped in order to prevent unauthorized spending of state funds that can’t be “clawed back.”

But he didn’t outright deny the teachers union’s case, also turning down the state’s motion to dismiss Monday.

Still, Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who is in his final days in office before stepping into a federal position as co-deputy director of the FBI, labeled the ruling a “victory.”

“Parents, not unions, not bureaucrats, know what’s best for their kids,” he said in a press release. “This case is about freedom and opportunity, and today’s ruling is a huge step toward securing both.”

At the center of the case is the MOScholars program, which until the infusion of general revenue landed last month funded private-school scholarships through a tax credit program.

The lawsuit challenges the shift from a program dependent on donations — which taxpayers are able to receive back as a tax credit equal to 100% of their contribution — to a state-sponsored voucher program.

Both sides met in circuit court last Thursday for the first in-person hearing of what will likely be a months-long legal battle. MNEA’s attorney Loretta Haggard argued that the appropriation lacks authority from state statute.

“You can’t just turn on a hose of $51 million in general revenue and force it through the tax credit framework,” she said. “There are gaps in that framework.”

But the attorney general’s office and intervenors from Indiana-based advocacy group EdChoice argued the legislature’s authority in the budget process was sufficient.

“Just because (the budget bill) funds a program set up by other statutes does not make a new appropriation unlawful—new funding is a common, necessary, and entirely unsurprising

feature of general-revenue bills,” Bailey’s office wrote in a filing submitted Aug. 15.

The digital case record does not include Stumpe’s reasoning for the two denials Monday.

MNEA President Rebeka McIntosh shared her concerns about the unhampered flow of tax dollars to private schools in a statement.

“Politicians think they’ve won, but Missouri NEA’s 45,000 educators know better. We’ll prove in court what rural Missouri already knows: when you kill the school, you kill the town,” she said. “These vouchers violate our constitution and hurt our kids.”

The case does not yet have a trial date.

Beginning Thursday, these products are exempt from Missouri sales tax

(From Missouri Department of Revenue)

The Missouri Department of Revenue is reminding taxpayers, businesses, and consumers that beginning Thursday, August 28, sales of the following products will be exempt from both state and local sales and use taxes:

Child and Adult Diapers
Qualifying Feminine Hygiene Products
Incontinence Products

Businesses that sell any of the qualifying items under this exemption will report the sales as a negative adjustment on their sales or use tax return and will no longer need to report these sales as part of their taxable sales.

“This new law provides meaningful relief for Missouri families by removing sales tax on certain essential health and hygiene products,” said Trish Vincent, director of the Missouri Department of Revenue. “We encourage both consumers and businesses to familiarize themselves with the exemption to ensure compliance and maximize savings.”

Businesses and consumers can review the Department’s FAQs page for guidance on which products qualify, as well as other common questions: dor.mo.gov/faq/taxation/business/hygiene-products-exemptions.html

 

Jill Carter: A lifeline for our first responders

(From Sen. Jill Carter, R-Granby)

Ten days ago, my husband and I received *the* call—the one that haunts every parent. Our 17-year-old son lay in the ditch on a backroad curve, crumpled and disoriented after a violent crash. Time fractured. Fear choked us. Yet piercing through the chaos were the steady voices of Neosho’s first responders and a Newton County Deputy. 

Their calm competence anchored us. Miraculously, our son walked away with only severe whiplash and a concussion- and with a personal testimony of what it means to have a stranger, law enforcement, and first responders, Sheriff, and the Highway Patrol answer a call for help.

That day crystallized what years working alongside law enforcement had already shown: when society frays, first responders are the rivets holding us together.

As a partner to Missouri’s sheriffs—and deeply humbled by this year’s Missouri Sheriffs Association Leadership Award—I’ve seen their sacrifice far beyond trauma scenes. Now, we are channeling that partnership into concrete action:

 
1. Securing Justice & Protecting Kids
Working with the Attorney General’s Office, we accomplished stiffer penalties against violent offenders—especially those exploiting porous borders.

2. Working with regional law enforcement, it became clear we need to do something to protect our kids online. Missouri’s Cyber Crimes Task Force deploys critical resources to safeguard children online. Predators evolve; our defenses must too.

3. Fixing Broken Retirement Rules
Many officers retire early due to the job’s grueling physical toll yet still yearn to serve. We’re fighting to pass “return-to-work” legislation, mirroring Missouri’s recent teacher pension reforms. Allowing retired deputies to rejoin part-time without pension penalties retains irreplaceable expertise.

4. Protecting Local Accountability
Some states are relegating sheriffs to mere agents of the court. Missouri’s sheriffs must remain accountable to their counties—a bulwark against federal or state overreach that tramples constitutional rights. Enshrining the sheriff’s role in Missouri’s Constitution ensures they remain independent guardians of our liberties.

 
5. Cashless Bonding & Safer Communities
Federal inaction on cashless bonding reforms has left a gaping hole in our justice system. Missouri is leading the charge to adopt policies ensuring violent offenders face penalties.

This isn’t theory.
When those responders pulled my son from wreckage, their *training* and *tools* were all that stood between tragedy and hope. Ensuring they have both isn’t charity—it’s survival.

 
The Leadership Award isn’t mine alone—it belongs to every deputy who patrols graveyard shifts, every detective who hunts child predators, every EMT who faces unthinkable trauma.

Honoring them demands action.

We will keep working until:

 
- Retired heroes can return without penalty,
- Cyber units have resources to shield our children,
- Sheriffs remain independent protectors of our rights,
- And justice is uncompromising for those who prey on Missourians.

 
To the First responders, Missouri sheriffs, and all who race toward danger: you stitch our brokenness into resilience. —we owe you unwavering support. Because next time that call comes, it could be for any of us.

32nd Street Sonic passes Joplin Health Department reinspection, three schools receive passing grades

The Sonic Drive-in at 310 E. 32nd Street, which failed a Joplin Health Department inspection August 15, passed its reinspection today.

Other establishments receiving passing grades today included:

St. Mary's Catholic School, 3025 S. Central City Road

Franklin Tech: Culinary Arts Kitchen, 2220 S. Indiana Avenue

Indo-Chinese Express, 4535 Highway 43

North Middle School, 102 S Gray Avenue

Recovery Outreach Community Center, 1402 S. Main Street

Jasper County Juvenile Center, 530 S Pearl Avenuue

Jason Smith: The Big Beautiful Bill strengthens family farms

The One Big Beautiful Bill modernizes the tax code to strengthen family farms, rebuild rural economies, and help American agriculture compete and win on the global stage once again.

For more than a century, America’s farmers fed the world and anchored rural communities with resilience, innovation, and hard work. But despite being the world’s agricultural powerhouse, America’s role as a global farming leader diminished because of bad tax and trade policies under the previous administration.

For the final two years under Joe Biden, America ran massive agriculture trade deficits, forcing us to import more farm goods than we export. Not only does this reflect lost opportunities for our farmers, but it also has far-reaching implications for America’s sovereignty.

Central to this package of reforms is a long-overdue fix to the death tax. More than 2 million family-owned farms were on track to see their Death Tax exemption cut in half at the end of this year, putting the future of generational farming at serious risk.

By locking in permanent relief and raising exemption levels, The One Big Beautiful Bill protects farmers from having to sell their land just to pay the IRS. It gives families the freedom to pass down the land they’ve worked for decades from one generation to the next, ensuring agricultural continuity and community stability.

That continuity is further supported by reforms tailored to how America’s farms actually operate. Nearly 98% of U.S. farms are pass-through businesses. The One Big Beautiful Bill permanently protects the 20% small business tax deduction utilized by these farms, shielding them from a sudden spike in their taxes. It also makes 100% immediate expensing permanent, allowing producers to fully deduct the cost of tractors, irrigation systems, grain bins, and other vital infrastructure as early as the year of purchase.

With a doubled Section 179 expensing limit of $2.5 million, farmers are now empowered to immediately reinvest in equipment new or used and innovation on their farm, giving them an upper hand competing in the global marketplace.

The One Big Beautiful Bill renews and realigns the Opportunity Zone program to bring upwards of $100 billion in investment into rural and underserved communities. From small-town main streets to agricultural supply chains, this capital can drive local job creation, infrastructure upgrades, and next-generation food processing facilities—all helping rural America return to being a net exporter of agricultural strength.

It also provides critical tax relief to farm households by blocking an average $2,500 tax hike and nearly 12% increase in overall tax liability, so families can keep more money in their pockets.

At the same time, the bill tears down barriers that have quietly limited growth. By reducing taxes on interest income from farmland loans, it lowers the cost of borrowing for producers, especially young and new farmers looking to get started. It also raises the1099-MISC threshold from $600 to $2,000, cutting red tape for producers who make use of short-term labor. This allows our farmers to focus on producing food instead of IRS paperwork.

The One Big Beautiful Bill also defends American producers from being undercut in their own markets. The bill includes provisions to ensure U.S.-grown crops are not crowded out by foreign imports—especially Chinese cooking oil—in biofuel production. That protects American commodity markets and maintains demand for domestic inputs, which ultimately strengthens the value of what we grow.

Just as fundamental as these market safeguards, the bill recognizes that agricultural productivity begins with the land itself. That’s why it includes tax provisions to help farmland stay in production, reducing the tax burden on working acreage and helping ensure land stays with producers instead of falling into the hands of speculators and misaligned overseas interests.

In total, The One Big Beautiful Bill delivers more than $10 billion in direct tax relief to farmers.

These are not just tax savings that live on a spreadsheet. They represent tangible reinvestments that will flow into the land, labor, and equipment that fuel America’s food production and increase our footprint in foreign markets.

President Donald Trump’s vision has always put America’s heartland first. When tax policy rewards production, protects family farms, and drives investment in rural infrastructure, we give American agriculture the footing it needs to lead again. And now, with support from Trump and congressional Republicans, The One Big Beautiful Bill is rebuilding a path to strength, security, and competitiveness that restores America as the world’s agricultural leader.

 

Plea agreement details investigation that led to guilty plea for kidnapping that resulted in Noel woman's murder

 

The sentencing of Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed for the 2019 kidnapping that led to the murder of Jessica McCormack, 25, Noel, the mother of three and a former Carthage resident, will be the last step in a years-long process of bringing the Somali national to justice.

A pre-sentence investigation was ordered for Mahamed Friday and no date has been scheduled for the sentencing.

Several law enforcement agencies contributed to the effort to bring Mahamed to justice, something that becomes apparent in the detailing of the case in the plea agreement, which was filed this week in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.

From the plea agreement:

On July 16, 2019, law enforcement officers with the Noel, Missouri Marshal's Office contacted Jessica McCormack and her three children at 229 Main Street, Noel Missouri, McCormack's three children were identified as 4-year-old Jane Doe, 2-year-old Jane Doe 2 and 6-month-old Jane Doe 3.

McCormack called 9-1-1 on July 16, 2019 at 7:01 a.m. and stated that the defendant, Mahamud Tooxoow Mahamed, her paramour, had held her at knife point and tried to force her to have sexual intercourse with him. McCormack repeatedly reported to the 9-1-1 operator that she was worried that Mahamed will harm her three children who were in the apartment with him.

McCormack noted that she was outside and needed to go back into the apartment for her children's sake, but the 9-1-1 operator asked her to remain outside to guide arriving law enforcement.

McCormack told the 9-1-1 operator that Mahamed had a knife and had more knives in the apartment. Near the end of the call, McCormack stated that Mahamed had come outside and was with her.

McCormack was heard stating, "Tito, I just did it for your own good," and then she said, "He's going to go up, Tito, stop. Please don't. He's going upstairs to the kids now, come on."

McCormack was overheard screaming, "Tito, stop, Tito, my kids, Tito stop!"

Officers contacted McCormack in scene and Mahamed was observing fleeing the apartment. This was the last time, McCormack was observed alive and the last time anyone reported observing the Jane Does in Missouri.

On July 16, 2019, Megan Bailey went to McCormack's apartment but could not locate McCormack or her girls. Bailey knocked on the door and could hear noise, but no one came to answer the door.

On July 16, 2019, at 9:34 p.m. Bailey called the Missouri Social Services Children's Division Hotline to report a safety concern. Bailey reported that she went to pick up McCormack's children, but when she knocked on the door, no one answered. 

On the following day, July 17, 2019, Bailey returned to the apartment again and when Bailey knocked on the door, no one answered.

On July 17, 2019, at 1:14 p.m., Kendra Baker called McDonald County Missouri 9-1-1 dispatch to report that she had been unable to contact McCormack since July 16, 2019. Baker stated she was in Jefferson City, Missouri, but she had not been able to contact McCormack via phone.

The last time Baker spoke with McCormack was on the morning of July 16, 2019. Noel Police Department Marshal Randy Wilson was dispatched to McCormack's apartment at 1:19 p.m.; however, no one answered the door. On July 17, 2019, Children's Division case worker Angela Bridges responded to McCormack's apartment to make contact, but no one answered the door.

On July 18, 2019, Ms. Bridges returned to McCormack's apartment and Sarah (Faust) Ritter answered the door. Ritter stated that McCormack and Mahamed were no longer living at the apartment and she did know where they were.

On July 19, 2019, the McDonald County, Missouri Sheriff's Office received a report of a deceased body that was located off of Missouri Highway 59 between Lanagan, Missouri and Noel, Missouri.

The reporting party, G. H. reported he observed a pink suitcase with feet sticking out in a ditch on the roadside. Corporal B. Ernest responded to the scene and G. H. pointed out where the suitcase was.

Upon inspection, Cpl. Ernest located a pink suitcase with a decomposed body. The deceased female was located in a partially unclothed state next to the suitcase. She had a pink tank top on that was pushed up to her shoulder area. The head was severely decomposed with no skin on it. The body and the suitcase were in a ditch next to a bluff hidden from the highway and passing traffic by tall grass.

It appeared that the suitcase had fallen from the bluff and the zipper had been ripped. The deceased was later identified by DNA analysis to be McCormack.

On approximately July 28, 2019 or July 29, 2019, Rahma Ahmed, the defendant's cousin, received a phone call from Mahamed. Mahamed told her he was bringing his other three daughters to her in Minnesota. When Ahmed asked why he was bringing the girls, Mahamed noted that something bad had happened and he could be in trouble.

On August 1, 2019, Mahamed and the Jane Does arrived at Habiba Muse's residence in Rochester, Minnesota. Mahamed told Muse that he and the Jane Does had nowhere to go, so Muse gave Mahamed $50 to help with the Jane Does.

Mahamed and the Jane Does went back to Muse's residence on August 3, 2019. Muse stated that Mahamed tried to leave the Jane Does with her. Mahamed stated he and the kids would have to sleep at the bus top, so Muse gave him $100 so they would have somewhere to stay. Muse gave them a ride to a motel and Mahamed checked in around 12 a.m. at a Super 8.

Rochester, Minnesota police officers responded to the Super 8. The motel manager provided a copy of the surveillance footage from August 4, 2019 and a copy of Mahamed's driver's license he provided at check in.

In the video, Mahamed was observed checking in with Muse at approximately 12:36 a.m. on August 4, 2019. Mahamed is seen checking out the next day at approximately 11 a.m. and the children are visible on the footage.

On August 8, 2019, the Jane Does were recovered at Malyun Koliso's residence in Des Moines, Iowa. Koliso reported that on August 5, 2019, Mahamed arrived at her residence with the Jane Does between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Koliso reported that on August 8, 2019, at approximately 4 a.m., she awoke to the children crying. When she got out of bed, she discovered that Mahamed was not in the residence. Koliso stated that she found a note from Mahamed informing her that he could not care for the children and had left.

Ritter later reported to law enforcement that Mahamed had told her McCormack left with the kids and he did not know where they had gone. Mahamed told Ritter that she could stay in the Noel apartment. Ritter stated that she saw Mahamed every day from the time she returned to the apartment on July 18, 2019 to McCormack's body being located on July 29, 2019.

Facebook messages between Mahamed and Ritter corroborated her statements. Additionally, Ritter noted that after McCormack's body was located, she began asking Mahamed where the Jane Does were via Facebook Messenger messages, both text and voice messages.

On August 7, 2019, Ritter asked Mahamed if he knew where the Jane Does were and if they were okay. To that, Mahamed sent a voice message through Facebook Messenger stating

Sweetheart, I'm trying to find them all. Uh, like cops don't know, nobody knows. They're talking about f---ing, they think that, uh, the lady in the suitcase is her. I, they're saying all kinds of different things. I'm just hoping and praying that my kids and wife are good. They're safe. And I'm trying to, trying to find them. Please keep trying to find her. I text her. I said please everybody is trying to help you, nobody is against you. If you're, if you're safe that's all we want to know. I, nobody even wants to know where you at, it's just the safety of her and the kidsis what everybody is worried about, so.

Mahamed continued to send messages to Ritter stating he hoped his kids are okay and he sent a message on August 8, 2019, asking Ritter, "who the f--- has m y kids?" Law enforcement also located messages sent by Mahamed using the same account to an account that had been utilized by McCormack.

On August 7, 2019 at 4:51 p.m., Mahamed sent a message stating, "Hey, Jess please me tell me you are ok and the kids are too and please answer everybody is trying to know if you are ok please let me know bae I'm worried sick here>'

Sometime in or after August 2019 and before September 19, 2019, Mahamed left the United States and began residing in Guatemala. Mahamed was located by Guatemalan law enforcement and on July 27, 2021, he was expelled by the Guatemalan government.

On July 27 2021, FBI Special Agent Cameron Heath and Special Agent Doug McKelway accepted custody of Mahamed at the La Aurora International Airport and transported him back to the United States.

On August 14, 2019, McDonald County Sheriff's Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Stacy Moore executed a search warrant for various locations including a Buick LeSabre that was identified to be a vehicle used by Mahamed and McCormack.

FBI Emergency Response Team processed the Buick. From the Buick, FBI recovered 22 items, including a bag of clothing smelling like ammonia. The clothing had blood stains on them that tested presumptive positive for blood. The trunk's carpeted area also tested positive for blood. All items from the vehicle were sent to the FBI lab in Quantico for testing.

On February 11, 2022, Erica Ames with the FBI Laboratory DNA support unit concluded her DNA analysis. A cardboard sign from a trash bag in the trunk of the Buick LeSabre had a bloodstain right near the right edge of the sign.

The DNA profile obtained from the bloodstain was 69 billion times more likely if it originated from McCormack than any other individual. The trash bag the sign was located in had a blood stain on the outside. The DNA profile was 10 sextillion times more likely if McCormack was a contributor.

A bra inside the plastic trash bag had a bloodstain on the inside right side. The DNA profile was 3.3 sextillion times more likely if McCormack was a contributor.

On January 20, 2023, SA Moore contacted Eric Hudson and interviewed him in Noel. Hudson advised that he previously worked at the African Store in Noel, Missouri. Hudson worked there for a few years until it closed on December 28, 2020.

Hudson performed various duties, including working the cash register. Hudson stated that a lot of the merchandise in the store came from Minneapolis. Employees would travel to Minneapolis to bring the items to Noel. Other merchandise came from overseas, such as China and Turkey.

SA Moore asked Hudson if he knew Mahamed and Hudson stated he did. Hudson stated McCormack was Mahamed's girlfriend. Hudson recalled Mahamed purchasing a pink suitcase from him at the African Store. Hudson could not recall the exact date, but knew it was purchased prior to McCormack's body being discovered. Hudson stated the suitcase had rollers and a handle. Hudson pulled up a picture of a similar suitcase on the internet and showed it to SA Moore. Hudson distinctly recalled Mahamed purchased the last suitcase in inventory and Mahamed paid $60 cash for the suitcase. Hudson stated it was the same color and style as the suitcase he sold Mahamed.

A short time after selling the suitcase to Mahamed, Hudson recalled Mahamed was having trouble starting his van. Hudson tried to help Mahamed and told him he needed a new ignition switch for the van. Hudson recalled Mahamed acting desperate during this encounter.

On January 25, 2023, SA Moore contacted Luul Ahmed, who reported she was the owner of the African Stores in Noel, Minneapolis, Sioux City, South Dakota and Skylar, Nebraska. Luul Ahmed confirmed that the store in Noel had closed. Luul Ahmed reported she was responsible for procuring all the products sold in her stores. Luul Ahmed recalled selling suitcases in the Noel store and stated she purchased them from a vendor in Los Angeles, California.

Joplin Police Department collars suspected cocaine dealer

A Joplin man faces charges of delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful use of a weapon following a Joplin Police Department traffic stop Wednesday at 4th and Range Line.

According to a probable cause statement filed Thursday in Jasper County Circuit Court, Arsen Levonovich Airapetian (DOB 1983) a large amount of cocaine was confiscated during the stop.

From the probable cause statement:

On 8/20/25, I, Officer Brannin initiated a traffic stop at 4th and Rangeline, in the city limits of Joplin, Jasper County, Missouri. I stopped a black 2017 BMW, bearing Missouri plate CY4P6Y for expired registration, expired February 2025. The vehicle pulled onto the parking lot at 407 S. Rangeline Rd. 

Contact was made with the driver who was identified as Arsen L. Airapetian. During contact with Arsen, he displayed nervous behavior, showing labored breathing and shaky hands. I suspected him of being involved in criminal activity. I had prior knowledge that he was actively being investigated by the Joplin FLEX Platoon for cocaine sales. I asked him for consent to search the vehicle, which he denied. 

I utilized my department issued K9 for an exterior free air sniff. K9 Bolt is trained and certified with the North American Police Working Dog Association. K9 Bolt sniffed the exterior free air around the vehicle giving a positive indication for illegal narcotics to be present. A probable cause search was conducted. 

During the search, a large quantity of suspected cocaine was located along with digital scales with residue, multiple empty clear plastic bags, a large quantity of illegal steroids and a Kel-Tech AR style pistol grip handgun was located, along with 22 caliber and 9 mm ammunition. 

Tru-Narc was utilized on a total of 9 clear plastic wrapped bags, showing positive for cocaine, and showed a combined measured weight of 61.10 grams. All evidence was processed and submitted by Detectives with the Joplin FLEX Platoon and a 411 form was completed.

Joplin man charged with statutory sodomy, meth possession

An arrest warrant was issued for a Joplin man who is charged with statutory sodomy and possession of methamphetamine. Bond was set at $250,000 cash only.

According to the probable cause statement, Luke O. Miller (DOB 1992) allegedly performed oral sex on a girl under age 14 and digitally penetrated her. During her interview, the child said Miller was drunk when the crime was committed.

From the probable cause statement:

On 08-20-2025, Luke Miller was arrested on probable cause of committing the offense of statutory sodomy in the first degree. 

During a search incident to arrest it was found that Luke was in possession of 1.34gm of suspected methamphetamine. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine using the Truenarc instrument (#4245). Further testing will be conducted by MSHP Crime Lab. 

On 08-21-2025, Luke Miller was interviewed. During this interview, Luke acknowledged touching the juvenile female's vagina.