Local News – Friday, September 13th, 2019

Dent County Prosecutor Andrew M. Curley has released a report on the sentencing of Ronald Ball. On July 13th, a bench trial was held for the charges of two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, both class C felonies. Curley presented evidence that Ronald Ball distributed heroin and methamphetamine in April of 2017 following the overdose death of Joseph Sutton at the Defendant’s residence in March of 2017. At the conclusion of the trial, Ronald Ball was found guilty of both counts by Circuit Judge Kelly Parker. On September 9th, a sentencing hearing was conducted. Prosecutor Curley presented evidence that in March of 2017 defendant had distributed heroin to another person who ultimately distributed the heroin to Joseph Sutton at the defendant’s residence that contributed to his overdose death. An autopsy was conducted as a result of the death of Joseph Sutton and the opinion of the doctor performing the autopsy was that the death resulted from methamphetamine and heroin intoxication. The Sentencing Assessment Report recommended that the defendant be granted probation and counsel for defendant argued for probation due to the defendant’s limited criminal history and due to his current poor health. Prosecutor Curley sought 13 years in the prison due to the defendant placing heroin into the community that became a contributing factor in the death of Joe Sutton and due to the defendant continuing to distribute drugs following the overdose. Judge Parker sentenced the defendant to 10 years in prison on each count, concurrent, and retained jurisdiction under RSMO Section 559.115 for the possible release from prison on probation after the completion of 120 days. Prosecutor Curley stated he appreciated the investigative efforts conducted by the Dent County Sheriff’s Department and Drug Taskforce resulting in the conviction of the defendant.

The Dent County Commission met Thursday morning at the Dent County Courthouse. At the meeting, Richard LaBrash from the American Volunteers said the 2nd Annual ATV/UTV Fall Ride for America will be held on Saturday, October 12th starting and ending at Danny Black’s Farm. The American Volunteers will serve a meal after 6:00 that evening to all the participants. The event is sponsored by the American Volunteers and the Dent County Sheriff’s Department. For more information, call Richard LaBrash at 729-3196 or Sheriff Bob Wells at 729-3241. If you have questions about getting a county license to ride your ATV or UTV on county roads, contact the Dent County Clerk at 729-4144. LaBrash also discussed with the commission an initiative he is involved with to get more veterans in the outlying areas of Reynolds, Texas, Iron and Dent counties to use VA services. Since many of these veterans live where there is no Internet, this would be entry level step to get them to be able to access the VA from public areas like libraries. He is working with the VA in Poplar Bluff on the project and would have more information in the near future. In the road report, District 1 Commissioner Dennis Purcell stated grading and ditch work would be done on Dent County Road 5450 while only grading would be done on county roads 4122 and 4150. Purcell said materials were being added to county road 6040, brush was being cut on county road 5105, 6150 and 6500, and materials were provided and a crossover pipe was being installed on Dent County Road 4060. District 2 Commissioner Gary Larson reported grading would be done on Dent County Roads 2510 and 3220 while brush would be cut on county road 4030. He also said the low water crossing has been repaired on Dent County road 4480 and the road is now open to through traffic. Presiding Commissioner Darrell Skiles helped out with the Dent County Beef Days Thursday before attending the MRPC Committee and Board meetings that night. Dent County Clerk Angie Curley reported that all the tax entities have submitted their tax rates that were certified by her and her office and were approved by the state auditor’s office. She went on to say that her office and the treasurer’s office balanced on all accounts for August, and that her office along with the assessor’s office and the collector’s office balance on all collections, abatements and add-ons for August. The next meeting of the Dent County Commissioners will be Monday morning at 9:00 at the courthouse and the meeting is open to the public.