Local News – Wednesday, June 26th, 2019

In a recent report from the Dent County Prosecutor’s Office, Andrew Curley reports that on February 3rd, 2017, Don Eugene Merrell, II of Salem, was charged with two counts of statutory sodomy in the first degree. The defendant pled not guilty. A jury trial was conducted on June 19th and 20th of this year and was presided over by the Honorable Judge Randall Head. Prosecutor Andrew M. Curley and Assistant Prosecutor James Weber represented the state. Defendant was represented at trial by Stephen Daniels. At the conclusion of the trial, the jury found the defendant guilty of one count of statutory sodomy in the first degree involving a minor under the age of 14 years old. His sentencing is scheduled for August 26th at 9:00 in the morning in Crawford County. The range of punishment authorized for this offense is for a term of years not less than 5 years and up to life imprisonment in the Missouri Dept of Corrections.

The Dent County Sheriffs Department has releases some reports for June 5th through the 11th. On Wednesday, June 5th, deputies conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of North Warfel and East 5th Street. During the course of the traffic stop, a 47-year-old Salem man was arrested for driving while having his license revoked or suspended, a second or subsequent offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he was fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. The next day, June 6th, deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop with a vehicle on Dent County Road 3260. The vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed and failed to stop for deputies. The vehicle then went out of control and wrecked through two fences and several trees. The driver and passenger of the vehicle fled on foot prior to deputies catching up to the vehicle. A K-9 unit from Salem Police Department was requested to assist in the search for the subjects. The K-9 tracked one of the subjects to a nearby pond where a 26-year-old Centerville man was attempting to hide in the water. The man was arrested for resisting arrest, stop or detention by fleeing, creating a substantial risk of serious injury or death to any person, and for assault in the 4th degree. He was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office and incarcerated. On Friday, June 7th, deputies traveled to the 200 block of West Hunt to attempt to serve an arrest warrant. During the course of the incident, a 24-year-old Salem man was arrested for an active warrant for his arrest through Dent County. The man was also arrested for the possession of a controlled substance. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office Jail and was incarcerated. On Saturday, June 8th, deputies traveled to a residence on Dent County Road 4155 due to a report of subjects fighting. During the course of the investigation, a 29-year-old Salem man was arrested for an active warrant through Dent County. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office where he later posted bond and was released. On Monday, June 10th, deputies conducted a traffic stop at the corner of Route U and Dent County Road 3210. During the course of the traffic stop, a 27-year-old Salem man was arrested for operating a vehicle on a highway without a valid license, a 1st offense. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued summons and released. And finally on Tuesday June 11th, while assisting Missouri State Highway Patrol with a safety checkpoint on Route HH, a 51-year old Salem man was arrested for operating a motor vehicle with no valid license, exceeding the posted speed limit by 11-15 MPH, and operating a motor vehicle with no financial responsibility. The man was transported to the Dent County Sheriff’s Office, fingerprinted, issued a summons and released. If anyone has information regarding an ongoing investigation, please contact the Dent County Sheriff’s Office.