Joplin man sentenced to 100 years in prison for sexual exploitation of chlidren

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Joplin, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for the sexual exploitation of two child victims.

James Hajny, 51, of Joplin, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 100 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Hajny to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration.

Hajny entered a plea of no contest during the second day of his trial on July 19, 2016, to two counts of using minors to produce child pornography, one count of receiving and distributing child pornography over the Internet and one count of possessing child pornography.

His wife, Gina Hajny, 41, of Joplin, pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography and was sentenced on March 1, 2016, to five years in federal prison without parole. Gina Hajny admitted that she occasionally used her husband’s laptop and saw images of child pornography. Gina Hajny admitted that even though she knew the laptop contained images of child pornography, she did not report the matter to law enforcement.

On Jan. 17, 2014, federal law enforcement agents received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding an e-mail that contained child pornography. The e-mail included a pornographic image of a 7-year-old victim, identified in the indictment as Jane Doe #2.

On May 14, 2014, federal law enforcement agents received a referral from the Queensland, Australia, Police Service regarding a user – later identified as James Hajny – uploading child pornography to a Russian-hosted Web site that allows users to store and share images. Among the images of child pornography were seven photos of a 9-year-old victim, identified in the indictment as Jane Doe #1. Hajny’s user information for the Web site stated, “I am into younger girls and boys ages 8-13 also into taboo.”

Agents executed a search warrant at Hajny’s residence on May 16, 2014. Gina and James Hajny refused to allow officers to enter, attempting to slam the door shut. Officers were able to push the door open and enter the home. James Hajny was patted down for officer safety and a marijuana pipe was located in his front left pocket. James Hajny was placed under arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Investigators examined a laptop computer seized from the residence and located 124 video files containing child pornography and 2,110 images of child pornography. Investigators also discovered numerous images of child pornography on James Hajny’s cell phone, as well as messages regarding the sexual abuse of children. Investigators also located numerous images containing child pornography of Jane Doe #1, Jane Doe #2, and an 11-year-old child victim identified in court documents as John Doe on James Hajny’s laptop and cell phone.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ami Harshad Miller and James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force and the Joplin, Mo., Police Department.

Neosho businessman's trial on child porn charge set for next month

The trial of Neosho businessman Blake Altman on child pornography charges is scheduled to begin 9 a.m. Monday, January 9, in U. S. District Court in Springfield. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 13.

The trial was originally scheduled for March, then changed to October 31 and then delayed until January.

Altman, 32, the former manager of Sam's Cellar, was indicted by a federal grand jury June 16, 2015.

Altman is free on a personal recognizance bond, despite opposition from the U. S. Attorney's office, which noted that not only was Altman downloading child pornography, but he told investigators that "his preference was for girls between 10 and 14 years old."

The government made the following argument for keeping Altman behind bars while he awaits trial:
The defendant was utilizing peer-to-peer file sharing software to receive and distribute images and videos depicting child pornography. The imagery in question depicted children, some as young as infants, engaging in sexually explicit conduct. The defendant, at the time of the search warrant, possessed a rifle loaded with armor piercing bullets, two sets of body armor, and a Kevlar helmet.

The defendant was accused by a family member of inappropriately touching her when he was 16 years old. The accusation was never reported to the police. The defendant told the investigators that his preference was for girls between 10 and 14 years old. This case involves a minor victim..The evidence against the defendant is overwhelming

The indictment came more than eight months after a search warrant was executed on Altman's arrest, which was noted in the October 3, 2014 Turner Report, posted minus Altman's name before his arrest:

A search warrant request filed in the U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri indicates child pornography had been traced to an IP address belonging to a Neosho businessman.

The affidavit, written by Joplin police officer Charles Root, working with the FBI as a member of the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, detailed the reasons the search warrant was being requested:

On August 14, 2014, Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force Officer James Smith conducted an undercover investigation into the distribution of child pornography. Utilizing an undercover computer, TFO Smith was able to make a direct connection with the target computer and browse the files available for sharing.

The target computer contained approximately 116 files believed to contain depictions of child pornography.

Smith was able to download 33 of the files, according to the affidavit:

Each of 33 files downloaded depicted minors, some as young as infants, engaged in sexual contact or posed in a sexually explicit manner. The imagery depicted minors engaging in such sexual acts as sexual intercourse and digital penetration of the minors' anus and vagina.

Official news release: Nine more, including Jarub Baird, indicted in meth conspiracy

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

Nine more defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a $1 million conspiracy to distribute at least 30 kilograms of methamphetamine, bringing the total number of defendants to 15 in an investigation that was initiated with an arrest by Buchanan County, Mo., sheriff’s deputies in St. Joseph, Mo.

Jake Ian Nixon, 19, Aaron Randall Stull, 51, and Michelle Vanne Gray, 49, all of Springfield, Mo.; Jarub Ray Baird, 27, of Carthage, Mo.; Breann Nicole Hall, 25, of Ozark, Mo.; Lanny Eugene Ham, 26, of Bakersfield, Calif.; Cindy Ann Nevatt, 62, of Gulf Shores, Ala.; and Autumn Sky Provience, 23, and Tara L. Harken, 44, both of Marion, Ill., were charged in a seven-count superseding indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 17, 2016. The superseding indictment replaces the original indictment returned on April 21, 2016, and includes additional charges.

The superseding indictment adds Nixon, Stull, Gray, Baird, Hall, Ham, Cindy Nevatt, Provience and Harken to the original conspiracy charge against Michael Ryan Nevatt (the son of Cindy Nevatt), 26, Kara Rene Baze, 23, and Scott Bryan Sands, 51, all of Springfield, Kenneth Bryant Lake, 55, of Strafford, Mo., Jerry Lee Brown, 43, of Lebanon, Mo., and Travis Lee Bethel, 45, of Urbana, Mo.

The federal indictment alleges that all 15 co-defendants participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine from Jan. 1, 2014, to Nov. 17, 2016. The indictment also contains a forfeiture allegation, which would require all of the defendants (jointly and severally) to forfeit to the government $1,060,070, which represents the proceeds of drug trafficking based on a conservative average street price of $1,000 per ounce of 90 percent pure methamphetamine and the total conspiracy distribution of at least 30 kilograms of methamphetamine.

All of the defendants are also charged in a money-laundering conspiracy. They allegedly conducted financial transactions which involved the proceeds of unlawful activity in order to promote the drug-trafficking conspiracy, to conceal the nature, source, location, ownership, and control of drug-trafficking proceeds and to avoid bank reporting requirements.

For example, the indictment alleges that Michael Nevatt purchased $13,000 in chips at the Grand Casino of Biloxi. The indictment also alleges that Michael Nevatt spent $16,000 to purchase a 2003 Corvette. Michael Nevatt is charged with three counts of money laundering related to these transactions.

In addition to the drug-trafficking and money-laundering conspiracies, Michael Nevatt is charged with Cindy Nevatt and Provience in a conspiracy to possess and use various firearms during and in relation to the conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

Michael Nevatt, Provience and Nixon are also charged together in one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime. They allegedly possessed a loaded Colt .32-caliber handgun, a .22-caliber handgun, a loaded Kahr Arms 9mm semi-automatic pistol, a loaded Raven .25-caliber semi-automatic handgun, and a loaded Bond Arm .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the original criminal complaint, a cooperating defendant was arrested by Buchanan County, Mo., sheriff’s deputies in St. Joseph, Mo., on July 20, 2015. The cooperating defendant, who was in possession of approximately 500 grams of methamphetamine and $5,000, allegedly identified Michael Nevatt as his source. The cooperating defendant also told investigators that s/he accompanied Michael Nevatt to Dallas, Texas, on multiple occasions to obtain multiple-pound quantities of methamphetamine, which was then transported back to Missouri for distribution.

According to the affidavit, Michael Nevatt was the middle man between Mexican methamphetamine suppliers and southern Missouri distributors. A second confidential informant told investigators that s/he had traveled to Dallas, Texas, with Michael Nevatt to pick up pound levels of methamphetamine approximately 20 to 30 times between October 2014 and July 2015. The methamphetamine allegedly was transported back to Springfield for distribution.

Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Rhoades. It was investigated by the Buchanan County Drug Strike Force, the Buchanan County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Citizen group Vision Joplin 2022 announced

(While it is commendable to create a vision of the future for Joplin, let us hope that the views of citizens are truly considered and are not being used as a screen to push an agenda, such as what we saw with the Citizens Advisory Recovery Team after the tornado. That group with the help of the current mayor and former city manager brought us Wallace Bajjali and a baseball team that had no chance of succeeding and resulted in the spending of $4 million to renovate Joe Becker Stadium. The following is the news release issued this afternoon by the City of Joplin.)

Today a group of area citizens and community leaders gathered at City Hall in support of Vision Joplin 2022 as it was introduced to the public during a press conference. Committee member Clifford Wert and Joplin Mayor Mike Seibert spoke about Vision Joplin 2022, offering details and encouraging the public to participate in the process.

“If you live, work and/or play in Joplin, we are asking you to help proactively plan for Joplin’s future,” said Wert. “We are asking ‘What is your vision for Joplin by May of 2022?’ We want to hear from you as this community plan is developed.”

The mission statement of this effort is “To improve and grow Joplin from May 2017 to May 2022”. During preliminary planning of Vision Joplin 2022, six key topic areas for study have been identified. They will be the focus of study and recommendation to the Joplin City Council. This will be accomplished by supporting the citizens’ desire for:

• Education – a committed focus on literacy readiness
• Governance – a long-term efficient and effective City. 
• Healthy Living/Wellness – a healthy place to live.
• Job Growth – a vibrant economy with a thriving workforce
• Positive Marketing –community pride and showing Joplin in a positive light
• Quality of Life – access to cultural and leisure-time activities.

Interested citizens can participate in the effort by utilizing a new web site, established to enable interaction with the community: www.joplinmo.org/visionjoplin.  

Each team’s initial meeting will be posted on this website, noting the date, time, and location. Citizens can register their participation in one or more of the six teams by using the website.  The individual teams will then set their respective schedule for future gatherings.

“Participation by interested citizens is welcomed,” said Mayor Seibert. “Please don’t be shy because we want to hear from you and have you involved in this process.”

Twenty-three community volunteers have stepped forward to lead this effort - Susan Adams, Brent Baker, Councilman Taylor Brown, Chalise Cooper, Bennie Crossland, Peggy Fuller, Dr. Brad Hodson, David Humphreys, Andrew Jordan, Shelly Kraft, Dr. Alan Marble, Ryan Melton, Kelli Norris, Rob O'Brian, Kelli Perigo, Dr. Norman Ridder, Dan Stanley, Councilman Ryan Stanley, Clive Veri, Scott Vorhees, Clifford Wert, Sam Anselm (ex-officio), and Mayor Mike Seibert (ex-officio).

Team leaders for the key topics are:

• Education - Dr. Norm Ridder, Dr. Brad Hodson, and Kelli Perigo
• Governance - Bennie Crossland and Clifford Wert
• Healthy Living/Wellness - Scott Vorhees and Peggy Fuller
• Job Growth - Ryan Melton, Brent Baker, and Taylor Brown
• Positive Marketing - Andrew Jordan and Kelli Norris
• Quality of Life - Shelly Kraft, Chalise Cooper, and Susan Adams

Simultaneous to this effort, two students from Missouri Southern State University have stepped forward to conduct a numerical study of the City of Joplin in comparison to other markets.  The students are being assisted and mentored by Lindsey Kubicek, CPA, with BKD LLP.

Vision Joplin 2022...

Remembering the day that will live in infamy

Each year on December 7, I reprint this post from November 8, 2008, written shortly after the death of Dick Ferguson of Carthage, who was at Pearl Harbor on that "day shall live in infamy.' This year marks the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

One of the first interviews I did after hiring on as a general assignment reporter at The Carthage Press in April 1990 was for a feature on the retirement of Dick Ferguson from his position as president at Financial Federal Savings and Loan.

Much of that story was based on the things he planned to do during his retirement. Turns out he was a bit premature. Richard Frazer Ferguson never reached a traditional retirement. In the 18 years since his "retirement," he kept working in one capacity or another right up until almost the time of his death Friday at age 88.

Dick Ferguson always put his community first as he proved when he stepped in two times after that initial retirement date to serve as interim director of the Carthage Chamber of Commerce. He also worked part-time for the Chamber for several years.

When Liberty Group Publishing ended my newspaper career in May 1999, one of the first people to contact me was Dick Ferguson, who sent me a much-appreciated card, saying he had noticed my name was no longer on the masthead and he wished me well in whatever I decided to do next. Having heard a few rumors about my departure not being voluntary, he added a postscript saying he thought The Press had made a mistake.

During my nine years at The Press, I had either interviewed Dick or had one of my reporters do so each year when Dec. 7 came around. Dick Ferguson was stationed at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, "the day that will live in infamy," and over the next 66-plus years, he did his best to keep the memories of that day alive, attending reunions and speaking to school groups.

After I left The Press, I was one of those teachers who called Dick and asked if he could speak to my writing classes at Diamond Middle School. He spent the afternoon at the school and enthralled my students with his tales on Pearl Harbor and World War II.

After he spoke to one of my eighth grade classes, he asked if the students had any questions. A girl in the back row, raised her hand and said, "Mr. Ferguson, your stories are so interesting. Who won that war?"

Naturally, I was mortified both for the girl and for Dick, since it appeared that one of my students was not aware of the results of the sacrifices he and his fellow servicemen had made to keep America safe.

My horror grew as another student chipped in and said, "I'd like to know, too, Mr. Ferguson. Who won the war?"

Thankfully, most of the students seemed to know the U. S. and the Allies won World War II. The two students' reaction did not faze Dick in the slightest. He calmly and politely answered their questions.

When the final bell rang at 3 p.m., I walked Dick out to his car and apologized to him for the two students. He laughed it off and said, "Don't worry about it. That happens almost everywhere I go."

That was why it was so important for Dick Ferguson and others like him to make sure the memories of those days were kept alive. Dick did that, not just through his countless presentations for schools and civic groups, but also through his writing.

His book, Look Back Once More, focusing on his memories of Pearl Harbor, remains to help make the past accessible to future generations.

A world without Dick Ferguson is hard to contemplate, but it seems fitting that he was called home just in time for Veterans Day.

State audit to focus on birth, death, adoption, marriage, divorce records

(From State Auditor Nicole Galloway)

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway announced her office is beginning an audit of the Department of Health and Senior Services' Vital Records Systems, which house birth, death, adoption, marriage, and divorce records. The audit will review system security and the safeguards in place to prevent unauthorized or inappropriate access to records.

"The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is responsible for safeguarding some of our most personal information. This audit will review the precautions in place to keep your information secure and ensure it stays that way," Auditor Galloway said. "In addition to privacy concerns, there are real security risks if this information is compromised. Having a valid birth certificate is often the first step in securing additional identifying documents, like driver licenses and passports. Even a minor lapse in security could have major implications down the road."

Individuals with information related to the audit can contact the State Auditor's Whistleblower Hotline at 800-347-8597 or by email at moaudit@auditor.mo.gov.

Since taking office Auditor Galloway has made cybersecurity a priority across all components of government. She was recently honored by the Center for Digital Education for her Cyber Aware School Audit program, which was designed to increase safeguards against unauthorized access to student records and information. Auditor Galloway has also incorporated data security into the standard audit process as part of an ongoing emphasis on data protection practices and keeping Missourians' information secure.

Galveston newspaper editorial: Stick a fork in Mark Rohr

A Galveston Daily News editorial makes it clear that come one week from today, former Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr is highly unlikely to survive an attempt to have him fired.

In League City, just as in Joplin and every other town in which Rohr has held the city manager position, he has run into "good old boys."

In many instances, these have been people who were already seated on city councils or as mayors and who were supposedly unwilling to do things any way except for the way they have always been done.

Rohr's good old boy in League City is newly elected Mayor Pat Hallisey, who was elected by a wide majority of the voters. Hallisey will present the motion to fire Rohr next Tuesday.

From the Galveston editorial:

Rohr had to have been expecting such a move, because Hallisey has been clear about his lack of confidence in the city manger.

He foreshadowed Tuesday’s news more than two months ago.

“Frankly, I don’t think you’ve got a big, long future in this city,” he told Rohr at a late September meeting during which Doan (the city attorney) had presented an item proposing the second investigation of Hallisey, that one on claims he had violated the charter and other city rules in various ways.

When the editorial writer mentions a second investigation of the mayor, the first was one pushed by Rohr which accused Hallisey of sexual harassment against city employees. That turned into a fiasco as Rohr and the city attorney violated Texas open meetings laws and the city employees in question did not feel the mayor had sexually harassed them.

In Joplin, Rohr collaborated with Globe Editor Carol Stark to push an investigation into Councilman Bill Scearce's alleged involvement in a gambling operation that was being done by tenants in a building Scearce was renting 20 years earlier. Rohr's efforts to have Scearce removed from the council were unsuccessful and backfired on him, just as his attempt to have Hallisey kicked out of his job appear to have done in League City.

If Rohr does not survive Tuesday's vote, perhaps he will at least have the satisfaction of telling newspapers how corrupt League City is and how everyone who voted against him will go to hell.

Unlike Joplin, Rohr does not have the protection of the local newspaper behind him.

The editors in Galveston and League City appear to be made of sterner stuff.

Federal grand jury indicts Joplin men for robbing Pinnacle Bank

A federal grand jury indictment of two Joplin men for the November 14 robbery of the Pinnacle Bank, 1316 E. 32nd Street.

Sean LaDue, 29, and Jimmy Eisenhour, 36, were charged with bank robbery and for the use of weapons in commission of the crime.

The two men were charged earlier in Newton County and have been in the Newton County Jail. Eisenhour was charged with first degree robbery and armed criminal action and LaDue with first degree robbery, armed criminal action, unlawful use of a weapon and felon in possession of a firearm.

Eisenhour is also awaiting trial in Jasper County on earlier charges of damage to jail property, delivering a controlled substance to the jail, felony burglary, and felony possession of a controlled substance.

Reiboldt: Legislature to work on education, ethics

(From Rep. Bill Reiboldt, R-Seneca)

Pre-filing of legislation for the 2017 Session began last week on December 1 for the Legislative Session that will convene on January 4, less than one month away. It will be very interesting to see how the General Assembly will work with the new Republican governor and his administration. One huge difference will be the shared political priorities being compatible with the majority of the General Assembly and the Governor’s Administration, and how we want Missouri to look as a state as we move forward.

Recently, House Speaker Todd Richardson took some time to outline part of what he sees for the 2017 legislative agenda. Speaker Richardson has had the opportunity to meet several times with Governor-Elect Greitens to discuss the common ground that can be found between the executive and legislative branches of state government. Some of their talks have centered around a future vision for what lies in store for our state. That vision is for a Missouri that respects and protects individual freedoms, for a Missouri that has a stronger, more vibrant dynamic economy than what we have today, and for a Missouri that seeks more good quality jobs for all its citizens. It also seeks a Missouri that has a strong education system for every student, no matter where they were born or where they live in the state.

The Speaker went to say that his top priority will be built around improving our state’s economy. That means labor reform, tort reform, and education reform. Continuing on, he said, “I think it will focus on these issues, as well as removing some of the government barriers that stand in the way of economic development. This will be a good agenda to start with.” Perhaps first on the agenda will be labor reform, including “Right-to-Work.” Missouri is poised to become the 27th state to pass this legislation, legislation aimed at preventing employees from being required to join a union as a condition of employment. Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas are already Right-to-Work states. Missouri may soon join their number.

In addition to Right-to-Work, tort reform, and education reform, ethics reform will soon follow. The Speaker pointed out that ethics and ethics reform will be very important as we move forward under the new administration, as our state’s citizens see this as a major priority.

As the General Assembly looks ahead to the 2017 Session, there is an understanding that we will face another very difficult budget situation. Governor-Elect Greitens is coming in at the middle of the FY17 budget year, which has already seen Governor Nixon withhold $150 million. It is projected that the new governor may have to withhold as much as $200 million more from this budget because of budget shortfalls.

The good news is that the state has seen revenue grow by as much as 4.5% since July. However, that news is countered by the fact that the state saw revenue numbers drop dramatically in the final months of the previous fiscal year, which put the state in a significant budget hole. Consequently, the state’s revenue must grow to prevent the need for any additional withholds and to restore the cuts that have already been made in the budget. Realistically, because growth at such a high level (6%+) is unlikely, the Budget Chairman will work with the new governor to find areas where budget withholds can be made without negatively impacting important state services and programs.

In addition to the concerns about the current budget, the state also faces a significant hurdle when it takes up the budget for the next fiscal year. That hurdle is the staggering cost of Medicaid and its related programs, including the growth in Medicaid. Furthermore, other state departments anticipate the need of an additional $150 million increase for their operating budgets for the next fiscal year. In order to keep up with all this, state revenues must grow by at least 6%, and in the event they do not grow at this level, the Budget Committee will be forced to take a serious look at ways to reign in the cost of Medicaid and the other programs.

This time is a time of anticipation—anticipation that a new governor and administration will have fresh ideas and fresh influence to help the state conquer all obstacles in its pathway as we move forward. It is also a time to be patient, support the new guys on the block as they get their footing and do our part to help ensure their tenure is one of success and satisfaction, not only for them but for the entire State of Missouri. We look to the future with bright hopes and positive expectations.

Graves: 21st Century Cures will save lives

(From Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves)

There are 10,000 known diseases in the world. Somehow, even today, treatment only exists for 500 of those. That is a staggering number, but the House of Representatives and the Senate have been working together to give our healthcare industries the tools to fix it.

Last week, I helped pass the 21st Century Cures Act, a bill that streamlines the review of life-saving drugs, provides funding to continue researching cures for rare and deadly diseases, and accelerates critical therapies for at-risk patients across the country.

Specifically, by increasing the speed at which cutting edge or experimental drugs are approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), the 21st Century Cures Act breaks down the barriers that have prevented millions of Americans from getting the drug and disease treatments their lives depend on.

This means the FDA maintains responsible safety procedures but can avoid so many of the obstacles they face before getting drugs to patients. The bill also seeks to improve the FAA's decision-making process by bringing in patients to share their experiences and help shape the agency's policies going forward.

All new funding in the 21st Century Cures Act will be fully offset with cuts to previously approved spending. Additionally, all programs will be reviewed annually in order to ensure taxpayers are getting the best and most efficient return possible on this investment.

Thousands of the diseases that are currently “incurable” don’t have to stay that way. We have a unique opportunity to bring our healthcare system into the 21st century, and spur cutting-edge medicines and treatments that can save lives. This bill will allow us to do just that.