Joplin man who searched for child pornography when he was high on meth pleads guilty

A presentence hearing has been ordered for Robert M. Holley, 44, who pleaded guilty to a child pornography charge this morning in U. S. District Court in Springfield.

No sentencing date has been scheduled.

Holley's crimes were described in a detention motion filed May 17.

On March 3, 2020, members of the Southwest Missouri Cybercrimes Task Force began an investigation predicated upon the receipt of ten Cybertipline Reports (CTR) from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Each of the CTRs involved the discovery of approximately 417 images discovered by Google on their servers within a Google Drive account. ROBERT HOLLEY was identified as a suspect during the course of the investigation.

On May 10, 2021, a search warrant issued under color of the laws of the State of Missouri was executed upon the defendant’s residence.

The defendant was questioned on scene and confessed that he had searched for imagery depicting child pornography at times when he was abusing methamphetamine. A preliminary forensic examination of a computer belonging to the defendant revealed multiple video files containing depictions of child pornography.

In the grand jury indictment against Holley, which was unsealed last week, the charging information said the child pornography Holley allegedly possessed "depicted minors, as young as infants, engaged in sexually explicit conduct."

The images included children being sexually abused while they were being held in bondage and the use of foreign objects on underage girls.

Holley initially denied knowing anything about the child pornography, the affidavit says, but "after being confronted with evidence located during the search, Holley confessed that he had searched for and had been viewing child pornography for over an year."

Billy Long: Biden blunders hurting our pocketbooks, harming national security, weakening America on world stage

(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)

Barely eight months into the Biden-Harris administration, our country is facing crisis after crisis as a result of their domestic and foreign policy blunders. Let's look at some of President Biden’s biggest blunders and how they’re harming Americans and making America look weak on the world stage.

First, our southern border. I have written about this issue several times because this administration seems to be willfully ignoring it. We have now had two consecutive months of over 200,000 illegal immigrants being apprehended at the southern border, and now we face a massive crisis in Del Rio, Texas, where over 12,000 Haitian immigrants simply walked across the border and set up camp. 

This gross negligence at the border is not just a national security crisis but worsens the health crisis as well. Reports indicate that the Biden Administration has released COVID-positive illegal immigrants into American communities and estimates show that anywhere from 20%-40% of illegal immigrants are COVID-positive. The safety and health of the American people should be the President’s top priority, instead, he would rather score political points with his base by doing nothing.

Another domestic crisis we are facing is rising inflation. We have been told for months now by President Biden and his staff that this is temporary, it is going to go away. Well, unfortunately for the American people, crossing our fingers and hoping that inflation will decrease just isn’t going to happen. 

Good policy can reduce inflation while bad policy will increase it. Massive increases in spending by the Biden Administration have resulted in higher prices across the board. Now, President Biden wants to spend $3.5 trillion on a liberal wish list. This unprecedented spending won’t only increase inflation but raise your taxes - a double whammy to your bottom line.

On the foreign policy front, President Biden has been successful at weakening America on the world stage. He regularly placates China by refusing to stand up for the people of Hong Kong in their desperate fight for freedom. 

The Secretary of State even went as far as to delete a tweet saying that the U.S. stands with the people of Hong Kong. He also refuses to hold China accountable for the COVID-19 health crisis and its human rights violations. 

Instead of being stern with Russia, he hands President Putin a list of infrastructure that is “off-limits” to cyber-attacks, giving them blanket permission to attack anything that wasn’t listed. More recently, he kept our oldest ally, France, out of the loop on a submarine deal with Australia, resulting in France recalling its ambassador for the first time since formal relations started in 1778.

On top of all of this, he completely botched the withdrawal from Afghanistan, abandoning hundreds of American citizens and condemning thousands of Afghan allies to death. The hurried and chaotic withdrawal ultimately resulted in a horrible terrorist attack that killed 13 U.S. military personnel and a desperate drone strike that killed an innocent Afghan family. With the Taliban now in control of Afghanistan, there is no doubt that terrorist organizations such as Al Qaeda and ISIS-K will grow in strength.

President Biden’s blunders are hurting our pocketbooks, harming our national security, worsening the public health crisis, and weakening America on the world stage. President Biden has been wrong at every turn, and the crises are starting to compound. Rather than steering the ship back to shore for repairs, he is holding fast and crashing it head-on into an iceberg.

Vicky Hartzler: Democrats' bill is about death for unborn babies

(From Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler)

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.) issued the following statement regarding Democrats’ pro-abortion legislation, H.R. 3755, which would impose abortion-on-demand nationwide:

“Democrats' radical attempt to disguise imposing abortion-on-demand up until the moment of birth as a women’s rights issue is repulsive,” said Hartzler. 

“This legislation is the furthest thing from freedom. Rather, it is just the latest Democrat effort which endangers women and results in the death of the next generation of Americans. I condemn this legislation in the strongest possible terms and unequivocally stand up for women, the sanctity of life, and the millions of precious unborn lives who cannot speak for themselves.”

Specifically, the following existing laws would be abolished should H.R. 3755 be signed into law:
Laws protecting women by requiring that only physicians (rather than other health care providers) perform abortions.
Laws giving women the right to see an ultrasound prior to an abortion.
Laws ensuring women receive additional tests or patient counseling prior to an abortion.
Laws requiring women be presented with accurate information and consent before having an abortion.
Laws that regulate the prescribing or dispensing of dangerous chemical abortion drugs.
Laws that regulate or restrict abortions performed via telemedicine.
Health and safety regulations for abortionists and abortion clinics.
Waiting period laws.
Laws preventing sex-selection abortion or abortion based on a Down syndrome diagnosis.
H.R. 3755 also does not allow any limitation on when a provider may decide to abort a baby after viability.

It is a radical proposal allowing the ending of an unborn baby’s life for any reason at any time during the pregnancy (including the day before birth) on anyone at any age.

It violates America’s first inalienable right—the right to life and has no place in our country.

Three COVID-19 deaths reported in Jasper County, 11 cases confirmed today

The Jasper County Health Department reported three COVID-19 deaths, bringing the county's total to 216.

The victims were a woman in her 60s, a man in his 70s and a woman in her 80s.

The department confirmed 11 new COVID-19 cases today.

COVID Update 9-24-2021

11 new positive cases

<1 year 1
1-4 yrs 0
5-11 yrs 2
12-19yrs 1
20-29yrs 1
30-39yrs 1
40-49yrs 0
50-59yrs 2
60-69yrs 2
70-79yrs 0
80-89yrs 1
90+yrs 0
Vaccinated = 1
Reinfection = 0

Emanuel Cleaver: Build Back Better, infrastructure bills desperately needed

(From Fifth District Congressman Emanuel Cleaver)

As the Summer of 2021 comes to a close and the fall season begins, I wanted to provide you with another update of my work in Congress. 

This week, I returned to Washington, D.C. following our district work period in August. During that time, I had the pleasure of meeting with a wide variety of constituents, advocacy groups, small businesses, local officials, and more. 

With Congress continuing its vital work to craft a reconciliation package that will help our nation build back better from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that I hear directly from those I represent in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri to understand where the federal response is succeeding and where it needs improvement--and the district work period was a tremendous opportunity to do just that.

Now that Congress has returned, we have a fuller plate than Thanksgiving dinner, including funding the government and our national defense, passing President Biden's Build Back Better Agenda, protecting voting rights and a woman's right to reproductive freedom, and the list goes on. We made great progress on a number of those issues this week, and I won't stop working until our business on behalf of the American people is finished.

Financial Services Committee Passes Reconciliation Bill

Last week, I was proud to join my colleagues in the House Financial Services Committee (FSC) in passing our portion of the reconciliation package, which is the vehicle being used to pass much of President Biden's Build Back Better economic agenda. 

As the Chair of the Subcommittee on Housing, I am thrilled to report that the FSC's reconciliation bill includes more than $300 billion in funding for new and existing federal housing programs over the next 10 years. 

With housing prices continuing to rise in Missouri and around the country, it is absolutely critical that Congress provide substantial funding, through tax incentives and other investments, to increase our nation's affordable housing stock. 

The package passed by the FSC is estimated to create, preserve, or retrofit more than 3.1 million homes, allowing millions more working class families to achieve the American Dream through homeownership.

The Speaker has announced that the House of Representatives will finish crafting the bill over the weekend and vote on the reconciliation bill, formally known as the Build Back Better Act, next week. 

I believe this is one of the most important pieces of legislation since I arrived in Congress, as it will provide a historic tax cut for the middle class; make desperately needed investments to combat the climate crisis; provide paid family leave; increase our nation's affordable housing stock; lower prescription drug prices; and ensure the ultra-wealthy and corporations are paying their fair share in taxes. I will keep you apprised of the Build Back Better Act's movement through Congress, and I remain hopeful that we will get it signed into law for the American people.

House of Representatives Passes Bill to Prevent a Government Shutdown, Provide Disaster Relief, and Help for Afghan Evacuees

This week, the House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution (CR) to avert a government shutdown while we continue our work on a more robust yearlong funding package and ensure that seniors get their Social Security checks, our troops get their paychecks, and our veterans receive the benefits they have earned and deserve. 

Included in the CR was more than $28 billion in relief for communities that have been devastated by recent natural disasters, including Hurricane Ida, wildfires, flooding, and more. 

I was proud to support the bill because I firmly believe that allowing the federal government to shut down in the middle of a pandemic would be the height of irresponsibility, and I believe strongly that we have an obligation to our fellow Americans to lend a helping hand when an uncontrollable disaster occurs. The bill also contains more than $6.3 billion to support our Afghan allies who were evacuated from the country.

You can find more information on the CR and my support for the legislation here.

House of Representatives Passes Bill to Fund National Defense

Every year the House of Representatives is obligated to pass a national defense bill that ensures our military is funded and our troops get the paychecks they are owed. 

This week, I was proud to join my colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with overwhelming bipartisan support. 

Some of the provisions in this year's NDAA that I supported are providing our men and women in uniform with a 2.7% pay raise, increasing the allowable parental leave for military families, making critical improvements to military health care, including easier access to mental health services, combatting sexual assault in the military, and strengthening our alliances with allies around the globe.

I'm also pleased to report that three of the amendments I authored were adopted into the NDAA with bipartisan support. These amendments will help to protect TSA workers and airline passengers from COVID-19, strengthen our national security apparatus's ability to crack down on money laundering and other illicit financial activity from nefarious actors, and strengthen our relationship with western Europe by creating the Alcee L. Hastings Leadership Institute for Inclusive Transatlantic Engagement. While I have never seen an NDAA that I thought was perfect, I strongly believe that democracy demands compromise, and this year's NDAA is the result of a fair negotiation that will ensure the safety of the American people. For that reason, I was proud to support the bill.

More information on the NDAA passed by the House of Representatives this week is available here.

Next Week: Passing President Biden's Build Back Better Agenda

Next week, the House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal (BID) and the Build Back Better Act. In conjunction, these two pieces of legislation will fulfill the promises of President Biden and tilt the balance of power away from the wealthiest 1% and back to the middle class--where it ought to be.

I believe that both bills are desperately needed to not only ensure a swift recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, but to guarantee we build back better than ever before. While negotiating landmark legislation like this is always difficult, I remain ever hopeful that Congress will get this done for the American people.

Joplin Health Department reports three COVID-19 deaths

(From the Joplin Health Department)

The Joplin Health Department is sad to report the deaths of three Joplin residents with coronavirus being a significant condition contributing to the death. This announcement brings the total count to 171 deaths in Joplin. The residents who passed include two males, ages 65 and 71; and one female, 54 years of age.

City statistics are listed on the COVID-19 dashboard at www.joplinmo.org/coronavirus . The dashboard is a collaborative project of the Joplin Health Department and University of Missouri Extension Office’s “All Things Missouri”. Please note additional area and state statistics are listed on the Missouri Department of Health COVID-19 dashboard . As Joplin Health Department continues to work with residents in our community, they remind everyone of the importance in taking self-care actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

 

If you are fully vaccinated, it is recommended you wear a face mask in public indoor settings due to the current transmission rate in this area. Additionally, wearing a mask or physically distancing may also be required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.

If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, you are encouraged to talk to your health care provider and find a vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting you from getting sick. Information about the Covid vaccine and locations can be found on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services website. Information about the City’s Health Department’s vaccination clinics is also available from the Health Department at 417-623-6122.

If you have a condition or are taking medications that weaken your immune system, you may NOT be fully protected even if you are fully vaccinated. Talk to your healthcare provider. Even after vaccination, you may need to continue taking all precautions, including social distancing and wearing a face mask in public.

The public is reminded to still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others. If you are experiencing symptoms, you should contact your health care provider for medical advice before presenting at their office. Testing information, as well as other COVID-related announcements can be found at www.joplinmo.org/coronavirus. More details about coronavirus are also listed at https://www.cdc.gov/ .

The reporting of Covid-19 related deaths from the City may be delayed due to the time it takes to acquire confirmation that the death meets the vital record case definition and lists Covid-19 as a contributing factor.

Branson elementary teacher charged with sexual exploitation of 9-year-old girl

The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed a felony sexual exploitation of a child charge against a Branson elementary teacher today.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Thomas Louis Schrembi III, 39, Springfield, an ELL teacher at Cedar Ridge Intermediate School.

According to the probable cause statement, Thomas Louis Schrembi III, took inappropriate photos of a 9-year-old Nixa girl he was tutoring.

The probable cause statement, written by Detective D. Wammack of the Christian County Sheriff's Office is printed below:

On 9/20/21 I received a phone call from the victim’s father, who wished to report his 9-year old daughter, AS, had disclosed to him she observed her private reading tutor, Thomas L. Schembri III take a photograph of her during a tutoring session which took place at 149 East State Highway CC, Nixa, Christian County, MO. 

It was further disclosed that AS was wearing a dress that day and (the victim's father) told me AS told him Thomas placed his phone beneath AS’s legs while she was sitting in a chair with her legs up and took a photograph of her underwear. 

On 9/21/21 a forensic interview of AS was conducted at the Child Advocacy Center in Springfield, MO. During the course of the interview AS disclosed she had seen Thomas take a picture of her underwear.

AS stated she was sitting with her legs up and Thomas stuck his phone between her legs, under her knees, and took a picture. She stated she didn’t say anything to Thomas because she was afraid it was going to cause a problem. 

AS told the interviewer the incident made her stomach “go uncomfortable." AS said she saw this out of the corner of her eyes. AS described how her stomach felt by saying it felt uncomfortable and her stomach “dropped."

She said she felt better after Thomas took the phone out. AS further described the incident by saying she was sitting cross legged and Thomas told her to put her legs down. She stated Thomas was seated to the left of her. She said she had her legs bent with her knees up. She mentioned she saw Thomas “peek” under her dress and then put his phone under her bent legs and took a picture. 

AS described the phone as being black, maybe an iPhone with a circular button. She stated it had a black case on it and a spot on the back for credit/debit cards, identification, etc. 

 On 9/23/21 I made contact with Thomas at his place of work (Cedar Ridge Intermediate School, Branson, MO). The abovementioned iPhone was in Thomas’s possession when he entered the room. 

It was promptly placed in a location where Thomas did not have access to alter the contents. Thomas was visibly nervous and I could see his hands shaking. I informed Thomas as to the reason for the visit and asked him about the photograph. 

Thomas denied taking a photograph. I asked Thomas if he had anything on his phone which he should not, and he stated something to the effect of he did not think so. Thomas indicated he did have about four photographs of a female “crotch” area, but stated said female was of age. 

He mentioned he thought the photographs were sent to him about a month ago. Thomas denied consent to search the cell phone, which was subsequently seized as evidence. He also requested a lawyer and all questioning ceased. 

On 9/23/21 at about 1442 hours I made phone contact with the victim’s father and asked him to describe what AS was wearing on the day the incident occurred. I was advised AS was wearing what he believed to be a red dress and brown panties with polka-dots. 

A search warrant was issued and the phone was taken to Springfield and was forensically downloaded by Springfield Police Department staff. At about 1923 hours I received a phone call from Springfield Police Department staff stating he had located three images. 

These images were collected and observed to match the description given to me by AS regarding her body position, as well as matching the description of her panties and were of the “crotch” style Thomas stated we would find. 

The images were taken on 9/19/2021 at about 1109 hours. The timeframe the images were taken falls within the timeframe of AS’s tutoring lessons, which her father stated were from 1000 hours to 1130 hours. 

I believe, if released, Thomas would pose a threat to the community, specifically children. Thomas is/was employed in a profession which brings him in to contact with children on a regular, if not daily basis. 

The images taken by Thomas are predatory in nature, and it is typical for child predators to have more than one victim. A complete download of Thomas’s phone has not been achieved yet, and it is unknown if further images exist

Sam Graves: This crisis at the border is not under control

(From Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves)

The President and his Administration have repeatedly told us that the border is closed, and the immigration crisis is under control, but in the last month alone, 43,941 illegal immigrants were released into the United States.

That means more illegal immigrants were caught and released into the United States than the entire population of Worth, Mercer, Knox, Schuyler, Holt, Putnam, Scotland, Atchison, and Sullivan counties COMBINED. Apprehensions at the border hit a 21-year high in August and more than 1.2 million illegal immigrants have been apprehended at the border since the end of January.

That sure doesn’t sound to me like the crisis at the border is “under control” and it definitely doesn’t sound like the border is “closed” like the President claims.

We’ve listened to these empty promises of border security for far too long. This Administration has kicked this can down the road one too many times, which is why I joined many of my colleagues this week in pushing the House to take up the Border Security for America Act of 2021 that I helped introduce last month.

I often hear complaints like “why are you so concerned about the border? Missouri isn’t a border state.” I don’t think that criticism could be further from the truth because quite frankly, these days, every state is a border state. Indeed, Missouri isn’t next to Mexico on the map, but when the situation at the border gets out of hand, we all pay the price, no matter how many miles away we are.

We’ve seen cartels take advantage as our Border Patrol agents are overwhelmed, using the illegal immigration crises as cover to move massive amounts of illegal drugs into our country. These days, that’s exactly how fentanyl, methamphetamine, and heroin flow into our communities, both in Kansas City and small towns across North Missouri.

The bottom line is that we must end this crisis. It’s literally poisoning our communities and our children. We must secure our border and the only way to get that done is to give our Border Patrol agents the tools they need to stop illegal immigration, human trafficking, and drug smuggling—including a completed border wall.

While liberals in the House refused to bring up my commonsense bill, the Border Security for America Act of 2021, I’m going to keep fighting to end this crisis and hold this Administration accountable for their failure to live up to their promises to the American people.

Neosho firefighter and former Seneca R-7 resource officer pleads guilty to child pornography charge

A  Neosho firefighter who formerly worked as a resource officer for the Seneca R-7 School District waived the reading of his indictment on a child pornography charge and pleaded guilty.

During a hearing held in U. S. District Court in Springfield, Jeremiah Scott Clogston, 44, Seneca, admitted he received child pornography between the dates of July 10, 2020, and July 26, 2021.

The Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force was alerted to Clogston's activities through a tip from Yahoo officials saying they had discovered possible child pornography in Clogston's account and noted that it appeared Clogston "had access to children."

As a search warrant was being executed at Clogston's home, Task Force officers interviewed him at the Neosho Fire Department, according to the plea agreement.

Clogston was asked if he had any idea why officers were investigating him. Clogston said it probably had something to do with his Yahoo e-mail address that he could no longer use. He advised that he had seen some child pornography when surfing the internet, especially the social media website Tumblr.

Clogston claimed he wanted to report the child pornography so he saved it so he could turn it over to law enforcement.

Clogston described the act that was shown on the video, which involved a grown man and an underage girl and the description matched what the officers had received from Yahoo.

Clogston stated that there were no more than three or four child pornography videos on his phone. He claimed he intended to report the files to (Seneca Police) Chief (James) Altic, but admitted he did not report them.

Clogston claimed to have been looking at child pornography for several years but never specifically qualified how long he had been looking at it. Clogston reported that he did have a sexual interest in children and an addiction to pornography.

A forensic review of Clogston's iPhone revealed 81 images and three videos "that depicted minors in sexually explicit conduct, that is, child pornography."

No date has been set for Clogston's sentencing.

Sentencing set for former North Middle School teacher who molested 13-year-old boy

 

A 9:30 a.m. October 15 sentencing hearing has been scheduled in U. S. District Court in Springfield for a former North Middle School reading teacher who pleaded guilty June 16, 2020, to sexually exploiting a 13-year-old student.

According to a plea agreement filed in 2020, Amanda Ruth Schweitzer, 42, will have to serve the full sentence no matter what it is, but she will be able to reduce it somewhat through her cooperation with federal prosecutors.

"(Schweitzer) has admitted her guilt and clearly accepted responsibility for her actions and has assisted authorities in this investigation," the plea agreement said.

Schweitzer will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Schweitzer's crimes were spelled out in the agreement:

On March 29, 2017, Joplin, Missouri Police Department (JPD) Officer and School Resource Officer R. Hirshey responded to North Middle School, 102 South Gray, Joplin, Missouri, in reference to the defendant sending nude images of herself to three students.

Officer Hirshey spoke with North Middle School Principal Matt Harding. Harding stated that C. O. and D. R. adult females, made a report regarding John Doe 1 (DOB 2003), John Doe 2 (DOB 2002) and John Doe 3 (DOB 2002), and advised him that the defendant sent nude photos to John Doe I's Instagram account.

On March 29, 2017, JPD Corporal Luke Stahl responded to North Middle School to further the investigation. Cpl. Stahl seized all the John Does' cellular phones with consent from their mothers. Cpl. Stahl asked the defendant if she would be willing to come to JPD for an interview.

The defendant consented and rode with Cpl. Stahl. Upon arrival, Cpl. Stahl took the defendant to an interview room and read the defendant her rights under Miranda and she agreed to waive her rights to speak with Cpl. Stahl.

The defendant stated she had communicated with John Doe 1 and 3, but that it was all school related. The defendant said John Doe 1 and 3 had messaged her asking for Mountain Dew, so she drove to John Doe 3's residence to drop some off for them.

The defendant said she had also given John Doe 1 and 3 a ride to John Doe 3's residence so that they would not have to walk home from school.

The defendant also admitted she had picked John Doe 1 up on March 20, 2017 to go see a movie. They never went to the movies, driving around instead and eventually they went to the river in a white four-door car.

John Doe 1 reported that once they got the river, the defendant (initiated oral sex and later sexual intercourse with the boy).

John Doe 1 stated the second time they had sex was on March 29, 2017. John Doe 1 stated he had not gone to school; he had stayed home with John Doe 3.

The defendant texted him to ask him why he had not come to school. The defendant later came to John Doe 3's residence and took (John Doe 1) inside to a bedroom. John Doe 1 stated that they had sex in the bedroom.

John Doe 1 started that the defendant mostly communicated with him through the Instagram application. John Doe 1 stated that before the defendant picked him up from John Doe 3's residence, she had sent him a picture of her breast.

John Doe 1 stated that the defendant had sent him nude pictures of herself before. John Doe 1 stated that in one of her photos, the defendant had a purple (sex toy) that looked like a cactus. John Doe 1 sent one (nude photo of himself) to the defendant.

On April 11, 2017, TFO Roller conducted a forensic examination of (Schweitzer's phone and John Doe 1's phone).

On John Doe 1's phone, images of John Doe (nude) and images with the defendant's exposing her breast were located. There was also one image depicting the defendant with (the sex toy) in her mouth.

On the defendant's phone, multiple images of her exposing her breast were located, including the images that were located on John Doe 1's phone. All of the Instagram messages had been deleted from both phones.