Local News – Thursday, December 12th, 2019
Dent County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Curley has released reports from a couple of court appearances last week. On Thursday, December 5th in front of Judge Nathan Kelsaw in Dent County, Daniel Rictor of Salem pled guilty to first degree harassment for threatening his sister and spitting in her face. Previously he had been convicted of felony stealing and the unlawful use of a weapon. Kelsaw sentenced Rictor to three years in the Department of Corrections as requested by the state. On Friday, December 6th in front of Judge Megan Seay, Curley reports that Stephen Mock of Salem pled guilty to charges of felony driving while having his license revoked, the unlawful possession of a firearm and the possession of methamphetamine. Judge Seay sentenced him to five years in the Department of Corrections. That same day, William Hatcher of Salem pled guilty to the possession of methamphetamine. Judge Seay sentenced him to seven years in the Department of Corrections with a long-term drug treatment plan under the Revised Missouri State Statute 217.362. Also on Friday, Macaulay Boschen of Salem pled guilty to attempting to escape from confinement. He was sentenced to seven years in the Department of Corrections under the Revised Missouri State Statute 559.115. Another case heard by Judge Seay Friday was a guilty plea by Andrew Steelman of Salem. He pled guilty to the possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute and he was also in possession of alproazolam. Judge Seay sentenced him to 14 years in the Department of Corrections under the Revised Missouri State Statute 217.362. The last case heard Friday was for Austin Carter of Salem who pled guilty to the possession of a controlled substance which was methamphetamine. He had two prior felony convictions of possession of a controlled substance and was sentenced to seven years in the Department of Corrections.
The Salem Police Department has released some reports for early December. Early on the morning of Friday, December 1st, shortly before 2:00, an officer drove up on an accident scene at Roosevelt and Wines. The investigation of the accident led to the arrest of a 23-year-old male of Salem for driving while being intoxicated. The suspect was treated at the Salem Memorial District Hospital and released on summonses to appear in court for driving while being intoxicated. Later that night around 11:16, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation which led to the arrest of a 44-year-old male of Columbia, Missouri for driving while being intoxicated and the possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspect was issued summonses to appear in court and released. On Tuesday afternoon, December 3rd, near 6:00, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 800 block of East Fourth Street in reference to a disturbance. That investigation revealed a 30- year-old male of Salem had assaulted a 36- year-old female also of Salem with his hands and a by hitting her with a landscaping brick. That investigation led to the arrest of the suspect for assault. The suspect was incarcerated pending the application for a warrant. Later that same evening at approximately 7:47, an officer was dispatched to a residence in the 200 block of South Warfel Street in reference to a theft. An investigation revealed a female suspect took $660.00 cash from the residence. That report is under investigation. If you have information regarding any investigations, please contact the Salem Police Department at 729-4242.
Elephant Rocks State Park hosts Mother Nature’s Christmas lights viewing from 5:00 this Friday evening, December 13th, to sunrise, on Saturday, December 14th. To mark this year’s most spectacular meteor shower, the Geminids Meteor shower, Elephant Rocks State Park will be open to the public for a rare after-dark event. Park staff will be available to direct you to the best and safest areas to view the shower. If you like star gazing, light shows and are able to brave the cold, come out and create a lifetime memory at Elephant Rocks State Park. It is December, so dress for very cold winter conditions. It is often colder on the rocks than the average local temperature, so you can become chilled sitting for long periods in the park even on a mild night. You are welcome to bring portable chairs and blankets to keep warm. Please remember to bring in only what you will be able to carry out when you leave. Trash receptacles are provided at the park’s parking lot. Please be respectful of other visitors’ experience and avoid excessive use of artificial lights and excessive noise during the event. This shower can be viewed with the naked eye, and telescopes or binoculars are welcome but not needed. No tents, propane heaters, lanterns or campfires will be allowed. Elephant Rocks State Park is located at 7406 Highway 21 in Belleview. For more information about the event, call the site at 573-546-3454. For more information on state parks and historic sites, visit mostateparks.com. Missouri State Parks is a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.