A Pineville man scheduled to go to trial later this month on 12 felony sex charges is suing McDonald County Sheriff Donald Schlessman...and taxpayers will foot the bill for the lawsuit.
Jerry Don Chrisman, 34, is scheduled to go to trial Tuesday, Feb. 28, in McDonald County Circuit Court, on four counts of promoting a sexual performance by a child, two counts of child abuse, promoting prostitution, sexual exploitation of a minor child, and four counts of statutory rape, three of them, involving children younger than 14, according to court records.
Chrisman claims he has been traumatized by Schlessman and Deputy Don Ruby, whom he accuses of keeping him in a cell with no lights, taking their own sweet time about mailing his letters and sharing information from his correspondence with his lawyers with other inmates.
This is being done, Chrisman claims, because "the alleged victim of crime is Schlessman's family, putting the plaintiff in obvious danger of attack and injury at the hands of fellow inmates." Chrisman does not explain why his fellow inmates would be so happy to do the bidding of the sheriff who locked them up.
It apparently won't take much to alleviate Chrisman's trauma. He is asking that Schlessman and Ruby both be fired and that each of them pay him $1 million.
Chrisman received permission today to file as a pauper, meaning that taxpayers will take care of his legal bills.
According to published reports, Chrisman allegedly forced minors to perform sexual acts that were shown live on the Internet. The alleged victims were three girls and one boy ranging in age from 13 to 16, according to a KSN report.
A pre-trial hearing for Chrisman is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15.
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Judge says no to interview of Braxton Wooden's killer
Lawyers in a wrongful death lawsuit will not be given an opportunity to question a teenage killer.
According to an opinion issued today by Judge Gary A. Fenner in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, lawyers for Brandie McLean will not be allowed to depose Ethan Gordon, the Alba teenager who murdered her eight-year-old son Braxton Wooden June 2, 2005. Gordon is serving time in a juvenile facility, according to court records.
Christian Faiella, the lawyer for Braxton Wooden's mother, Brandie McLean, had hoped to question Gordon Feb. 24 at the law offices of Karl Blanchard in Joplin.
Ms. McLean filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Gordon, his parents, Mark and Treva Gordon, Alba, who were Braxton Wooden's foster parents, and Social Services caseworkers Ethan McGinnis and Mickey Morgan.
According to the motion, which was filed last month, the deposition was needed because "Mr. Gordon is a material witness in this action by virtue of his knowledge of the facts relating to the death of Braxton Deshawn Wooden and his knowledge of the circumstances surrounding (Braxton's) life and condition while he was in the Gordon home before and leading up to the time of (Braxton's) death.
The following information was included in Ms. McLean's lawsuit as her reasons for filing it:
According to the petition, "Ethan Gordon knew or should have known that the gun was loaded with ammunition."
Mark and Treva Gordon owned the 38 caliber Smith and Wesson gun that killed Braxton Wooden, as well as other weapons and ammunition, the petition said. "Weapons, specifically firearms, were accessible to the children in the foster home in violation of state foster care regulations and Missouri Department of Social Services Children's Division policy."
The petition continues, "Mark and Treva Gordon knew or should have known the location in which they kept the gun was accessible to the minor child," and that Ethan Gordon "was not mature enough to exercise the proper degree of care in the use and control of the gun."
Ms. Morgan and McGinnis, who was her manager and supervisor, were also responsible for Braxton Wooden's death, the lawsuit said, because they failed to determine "that Mark and Treva Gordon were unfit persons to act as foster parents."
The caseworkers also failed to "monitor" and to provide "adequate supervision and caseworker services to Braxton Deshawn Wooden," the petition said.
It also said the caseworkers failed to investigate whether hazardous items were accessible to children. The petition says, "Braxton Deshawn Wooden was subject to physical and emotional deprivation" and he suffered "severe and violent injuries," and was "subject to extreme emotional and psychological distress in that he suffered and endured an unstable family environment, humiliation, mental anguish and fear."
The state workers were "negligent, careless, grossly negligent, imprudent and reckless and totally without thought as to the safety and welfare of others and with complete indifference to or conscious disregard for the safety of others," the petition said.
Ms. McLean is asking for money to cover funeral and burial expenses, the pain and suffering of Braxton Wooden prior to his death, the "past and future loss of services, consortium, companionship, comfort, instruction, guidance, counsel, training and support," as well as punitive damages and attorney fees, according to the petition.
According to an opinion issued today by Judge Gary A. Fenner in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, lawyers for Brandie McLean will not be allowed to depose Ethan Gordon, the Alba teenager who murdered her eight-year-old son Braxton Wooden June 2, 2005. Gordon is serving time in a juvenile facility, according to court records.
Christian Faiella, the lawyer for Braxton Wooden's mother, Brandie McLean, had hoped to question Gordon Feb. 24 at the law offices of Karl Blanchard in Joplin.
Ms. McLean filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Gordon, his parents, Mark and Treva Gordon, Alba, who were Braxton Wooden's foster parents, and Social Services caseworkers Ethan McGinnis and Mickey Morgan.
According to the motion, which was filed last month, the deposition was needed because "Mr. Gordon is a material witness in this action by virtue of his knowledge of the facts relating to the death of Braxton Deshawn Wooden and his knowledge of the circumstances surrounding (Braxton's) life and condition while he was in the Gordon home before and leading up to the time of (Braxton's) death.
The following information was included in Ms. McLean's lawsuit as her reasons for filing it:
According to the petition, "Ethan Gordon knew or should have known that the gun was loaded with ammunition."
Mark and Treva Gordon owned the 38 caliber Smith and Wesson gun that killed Braxton Wooden, as well as other weapons and ammunition, the petition said. "Weapons, specifically firearms, were accessible to the children in the foster home in violation of state foster care regulations and Missouri Department of Social Services Children's Division policy."
The petition continues, "Mark and Treva Gordon knew or should have known the location in which they kept the gun was accessible to the minor child," and that Ethan Gordon "was not mature enough to exercise the proper degree of care in the use and control of the gun."
Ms. Morgan and McGinnis, who was her manager and supervisor, were also responsible for Braxton Wooden's death, the lawsuit said, because they failed to determine "that Mark and Treva Gordon were unfit persons to act as foster parents."
The caseworkers also failed to "monitor" and to provide "adequate supervision and caseworker services to Braxton Deshawn Wooden," the petition said.
It also said the caseworkers failed to investigate whether hazardous items were accessible to children. The petition says, "Braxton Deshawn Wooden was subject to physical and emotional deprivation" and he suffered "severe and violent injuries," and was "subject to extreme emotional and psychological distress in that he suffered and endured an unstable family environment, humiliation, mental anguish and fear."
The state workers were "negligent, careless, grossly negligent, imprudent and reckless and totally without thought as to the safety and welfare of others and with complete indifference to or conscious disregard for the safety of others," the petition said.
Ms. McLean is asking for money to cover funeral and burial expenses, the pain and suffering of Braxton Wooden prior to his death, the "past and future loss of services, consortium, companionship, comfort, instruction, guidance, counsel, training and support," as well as punitive damages and attorney fees, according to the petition.
AmericanConnection to end flights from Joplin, Springfield
Trans State Airlines announced today it will end flight service from Joplin, Springfield, Columbia, Springfield, Ill., and Decatur, Ill., according to a news release issued by the company today.
The flights had taken place through Trans State's AmericanConnection partnership, according to the release. The company said it is working with RegionsAir to continue to provide service to the five cities.
Trans State, a St. Louis-based company, has provided transportation between the five cities and St. Louis. RegionsAir, a Smyrna, Tenn., company, flies 19-seat turboprop aircrafts.
The flights had taken place through Trans State's AmericanConnection partnership, according to the release. The company said it is working with RegionsAir to continue to provide service to the five cities.
Trans State, a St. Louis-based company, has provided transportation between the five cities and St. Louis. RegionsAir, a Smyrna, Tenn., company, flies 19-seat turboprop aircrafts.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Moark continues to drag down Land O'Lakes
Land O'Lakes, which now completely owns Moark, including the facility that received a light slap on the hand from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources Monday, had a great 2005, according to documents filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The company had net sales of $7.6 billion and net earnings of $128.9 million, according to the document.
That picture would have been even better had it not been for the company's egg laying business done through Moark. The documents indicate Moark had a full-year pretax loss of $31.8 million. For the fourth quarter, the loss was $4.2 million.
The problem, Land O'Lakes officials say "can be attributed to a 23 percent decline in average egg prices year over year. Egg prices averaged approximately 72 cents per dozen over 2005, as compared to 91 cents per dozen in 2004."
The documents said sales for 2005 for Moark were $407 million, with fourth quarter sales of $119.9 million.
The company had net sales of $7.6 billion and net earnings of $128.9 million, according to the document.
That picture would have been even better had it not been for the company's egg laying business done through Moark. The documents indicate Moark had a full-year pretax loss of $31.8 million. For the fourth quarter, the loss was $4.2 million.
The problem, Land O'Lakes officials say "can be attributed to a 23 percent decline in average egg prices year over year. Egg prices averaged approximately 72 cents per dozen over 2005, as compared to 91 cents per dozen in 2004."
The documents said sales for 2005 for Moark were $407 million, with fourth quarter sales of $119.9 million.
DNR sending wrong message in Moark situation
The Neosho Daily News noted last night that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has issued an official notice of violation against Moark for its continuing odor problems, but will not levy any fines.
I would imagine this decision has Moark officials shaking in their boots. What incentive do they have to make improvements at their facilities? The company is now wholly owned by Land O'Lakes, which has deep pockets, so start hitting it where it counts if it cannot abide by state regulations.
Even more disturbing was DNR officials' refusal to release Moark's response earlier this week. It was the company's public response to an odor complaint; it was not going to change; the public had every right to see it the same time or shortly after the state officials saw it.
When you combine that kind of attitude about the public's right to know with the acceptance of campaign contributions from Moark by Governor Matt Blunt and some of our area officials, is it any wonder people have no faith in the system?
I would imagine this decision has Moark officials shaking in their boots. What incentive do they have to make improvements at their facilities? The company is now wholly owned by Land O'Lakes, which has deep pockets, so start hitting it where it counts if it cannot abide by state regulations.
Even more disturbing was DNR officials' refusal to release Moark's response earlier this week. It was the company's public response to an odor complaint; it was not going to change; the public had every right to see it the same time or shortly after the state officials saw it.
When you combine that kind of attitude about the public's right to know with the acceptance of campaign contributions from Moark by Governor Matt Blunt and some of our area officials, is it any wonder people have no faith in the system?
Magazine: Blunt is a poor loser
Radio and Television Business Review took issue with Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt's lament that the media was responsible for his loss to John Boehner in the majority leader vote last week.
"Implying that the other 225 Republicans in the House were dependent on the media for learning how they should vote is an insult to the members and attributes to the media much more power than it actually has, particularly over an intramural occasion such as this. Can you say sour grapes?" the magazine editorialized.
In its comments, magazine editors noted that Boehner was the subject of just as much scrutiny about his connections with lobbyists as Blunt was.
"Implying that the other 225 Republicans in the House were dependent on the media for learning how they should vote is an insult to the members and attributes to the media much more power than it actually has, particularly over an intramural occasion such as this. Can you say sour grapes?" the magazine editorialized.
In its comments, magazine editors noted that Boehner was the subject of just as much scrutiny about his connections with lobbyists as Blunt was.
Photo IDS may be required for Missouri voters
They do it at the banks, so why shouldn't they do it at the polls?
That is the logic being advanced by Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City, who is sponsoring a bill in the Missouri Senate to require photo identification at the polls. Scott's district includes Barton County.
Scott explains his proposal in an article in today's Kansas City Star.
Jasper County jury impaneled for Kansas City case
Fifteen Jasper County residents will spend the next week or so in the Kansas City area hearing a felony kidnapping case, according to an article in today's Kansas City Star.
The jurors were impaneled Monday after a session in Jasper County Circuit Court in Carthage. They will be sequestered during the trial.
The jurors were impaneled Monday after a session in Jasper County Circuit Court in Carthage. They will be sequestered during the trial.
Class action lawsuit filed against Jarden
A press release on PR Newswire indicates a class action lawsuit was filed in U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York "on behalf of all securities purchasers of Jarden Corporation." Jarden owns the former Sunbeam plant in Neosho.
The lawsuit alleges Jarden and some of its officers and directors misled the public by issuing "a series of false and misleading statements to the market artificially inflating the company's stock."
Jarden officials failed to disclose that the Holmes Group, which Jarden bought this year,"had no reasonable way to repeat its performance in 2005 due to the loss of tens of million of dollars in revenue from a deal Holmes had with Procter & Gamble."
On Jan. 12, 2006, Jarden issued a business update saying the profit margins it had anticipated for Holmes were nowhere near what they were supposed to be. "In hindsight, the original forecasts for Holmes provided to us at the time of the acquisition were overoptimistic," the statement said.
After this announcement was made, Jarden's shares fell $3.37 per share or 11.08 percent, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges Jarden and some of its officers and directors misled the public by issuing "a series of false and misleading statements to the market artificially inflating the company's stock."
Jarden officials failed to disclose that the Holmes Group, which Jarden bought this year,"had no reasonable way to repeat its performance in 2005 due to the loss of tens of million of dollars in revenue from a deal Holmes had with Procter & Gamble."
On Jan. 12, 2006, Jarden issued a business update saying the profit margins it had anticipated for Holmes were nowhere near what they were supposed to be. "In hindsight, the original forecasts for Holmes provided to us at the time of the acquisition were overoptimistic," the statement said.
After this announcement was made, Jarden's shares fell $3.37 per share or 11.08 percent, according to the lawsuit.
Columnist says legislators lied to Blunt
Conservative columnist Paul Weyrich writes that some of Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt's fellow Congressmen lied to him last week when they told him they were fully behind his candidacy for majority leader.
Weyrich's column suggests that some members felt Blunt should have resigned as majority whip before the election and perhaps should do so now, then reemerge later as a candidate for Speaker of the House when Dennis Hastert steps down.
Finally, the column indicates it should be a bumpy ride ahead for the GOP House leadership since Blunt and the man who beat him, John Boehner, do not particularly like each other, but will have to work together as majority whip and majority leader.
Weyrich's column suggests that some members felt Blunt should have resigned as majority whip before the election and perhaps should do so now, then reemerge later as a candidate for Speaker of the House when Dennis Hastert steps down.
Finally, the column indicates it should be a bumpy ride ahead for the GOP House leadership since Blunt and the man who beat him, John Boehner, do not particularly like each other, but will have to work together as majority whip and majority leader.
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