Category: kmiz-local-news

Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Monroe County man has been arrested and charged after he allegedly went into a Randolph County home and fired a gun at three people.

Jason Springer, 47, of Madison, Missouri, was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree burglary and two counts of first-degree harassment. He is being held at the Randolph County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

The probable cause statement says deputies were called on Saturday for a report of harassment. Springer was allegedly sending one of the victims threatening text messages, driving by the residence and going into the home after being told not to, the statement says.

Deputies arrived, told Springer to leave and advised that he could be arrested, the statement says. Springer allegedly made threatening comments about one of the victims. About two hours later, law enforcement was called back to the residence for a report of shots being fired, the statement says.

Springer allegedly went back to the residence, went inside the building, pulled out a double-barrel shotgun, pointed it at three people and asked who wanted to die, the probable cause statement says. He then fired a shot into a wall and another into a door, the statement says. Court documents say the round found appeared to be birdshot.

One of the residents pulled out a gun and Springer left after dropping his cellphone, the statement says. He was still logged in to his Facebook account on the phone, the statement says.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was charged with four felonies on Monday after he allegedly assaulted someone early Sunday.

Paris Jones Jr., 33, was charged in Boone County with second-degree domestic assault, unlawful use of a weapon, armed criminal action and misdemeanor illegally possessing drug paraphernalia. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance was held on Monday afternoon.

Court documents say Jones strangled one of the victims to the point where they blacked out. Paris allegedly pulled out two knives and pushed one of them into the victim’s chest.

The victim had marks on their neck and blood coming from their ear after Jones bit it, police wrote.

Someone cited in the probable cause statement told police that they believed Jones was using cocaine. Police wrote that an item on Jones

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Columbia police say that a man tried to fight officers while he was being arrested after he allegedly exposed himself to a minor.

Roughly nine Columbia Police Department vehicles were in a parking lot Monday afternoon in the 1100 block of Lakeview Avenue, an area just north of Business Loop 70 off of Range Line Street.

An ABC 17 News reporter also saw an ambulance on the scene and Sgt. Patrick Corcoran said at the scene that the man was bring brought to an area hospital.  

No officers were injured, Corcoran said. The name of the man was not disclosed at the scene.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The City of Sedalia is expected to interview four candidates on Monday evening for the open Ward 1 seat.

A Facebook post from the city shows that it will interview Adam Porter, Cheryl Ames, Jason Michael Joy and Virginia Kaye Brainard. The interviews will be livestreamed at 6 p.m.

Tom Oldham stepped down from his position in April after “serious allegations” were brought against him, the City of Sedalia wrote in a social media post. The city did not elaborate on the allegations in the post or in communications with ABC 17 News.

Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders told ABC 17 News in emails that his office is investigating Oldham. The criminal investigation includes the possible sexual harassment of a youth. Oldham was recently reelected to his seat in the April 8 race.

The Facebook post on Monday stated that all four candidates filled out an application.

The city had stated in April that it would follow state statutes, allowing the mayor to make an appointment to the council, with council approval.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Mexico, Missouri, man who was found guilty in April of 10 child sex crimes has been sentenced.  

John Sidney Kelly Jr., 43, was sentenced on Monday to three consecutive life sentences for statutory rape, child molestation and other charges.

He was charged in the case with first-degree rape, first-degree child molestation, three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, one count of second-degree statutory rape, fourth-degree child molestation, second-degree rape, statutory sodomy of a person younger than 14 years old and third-degree child molestation.

He abused the victims from 2012-19, a press release from the Audrain County prosecutor’s office says.

“These sentences show the power of victims who are protected, believed and taken seriously,” Audrain County Prosecutor Jacob Shellabarger said in the release. “Audrain County jurors heard the truth of John Kelly Jr.’s horrific abuse of these two strong young women. Although it took a long time, justice arrived. John Kelly will never walk free again to harm another child.”

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Benton County Treasurer Richard Renno was charged on Monday with two child sex crimes.

Renno, 62, of Lincoln, was charged in Benton County with child enticement and sexual misconduct involving a child younger than 15 years old. Missouri State Highway Patrol arrest reports show he was arrested at 7:37 a.m. Monday and was brought to the jail. MSHP later wrote in a press release that he is being held on a $100,000 bond.

A hearing was held on Monday afternoon and the court issued a motion to recuse itself and find a new judge.

The probable cause statement says that Renno used the dating application Grindr in August to speak to a child younger than 15 years old. A witness allegedly gave a screenshot to law enforcement of Renno’s face and a nude photograph he sent through Grindr, court documents say. A family member was able to identify Renno to law enforcement, the statement says.

“The family member told me that he would use his electronic devices, computers and cellular devices to solicit sex online from young men,” the probable cause statement reads.

Renno allegedly admitted to troopers that he has had a Grindr account for 10 years and has talked with minors on the application more than once, the statement says. He also allegedly admitted to sending a nude photograph to users.

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Ryan Shiner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A mother was charged with several felonies after authorities say she tried to kill her children on Sunday night in a Jefferson City hotel room.

Lydia Ginger, 36, was charged on Monday with child abuse, four counts of domestic assault and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child. A warrant was issued and no bond was set.

The probable cause statement says that one of her children called police after Ginger threatened to kill and strangle them and their siblings. Ginger allegedly tried to smother the child with a pillow.

The victim also reported seeing Ginger try to smother a 3-month-old while saying that “if one dies, they all die,” court documents say. Another child told police at the Capitol Plaza Hotel that Ginger tried to smother them, court documents say.

Ginger allegedly told police that she “blacked out” and couldn’t remember anything.

“Ginger admitted that she ‘snapped,’ adding that she’s not denying that suffocation with pillows happened – but she couldn’t remember, citing her being ‘blacked out’ due to post-partum depression,” the statement says.

Police also found several empty alcohol bottles in the hotel room and wrote that she appeared “highly intoxicated” outside of the hotel room.

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Madison Stuerman

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Moniteau County man is facing 16 felonies after a drug search warrant was served last week.

Jorge Bedolla, 36, of California, was taken into custody after the Mid-Missouri Drug Task Force and Moniteau County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a home on Gerhart Road on Thursday.

Bedolla was charged with second-degree drug trafficking, possession of a controlled substance, three counts of child endangerment and 11 counts of unlawful possession of a firearm.

Court documents state Bedolla was taken into custody at the home and was later found with a crystal substance in his pocket that field tested positive for meth.

Deputies said they also found about a gram of fentanyl on a picture with a card that had Bedolla’s name next to it, with a hollowed-out pen.

A handgun with two rounds in its chamber was found by detectives, according to documents. Badolla’s wife allegedly told deputies the guns belonged to him.

Ten guns were allegedly found in a locked room in the bathroom attached to the main bedroom.

Documents also state deputies found a substance that field tested positive for meth in a garage behind the home.

Three children were in the home at the time of the arrest. Deputies said in court documents that they could have access to any of the drugs as they were found in open areas.

Badolla is currently being held at the Moniteau County Jail.

An initial arraignment is set for Tuesday morning.

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Madison Stuerman

MOBERLY, Mo. (KMIZ)

After several months of searching, the City of Moberly has a new police chief.

According to a release, Interim Chief Bobby Calvert was appointed to the position of Chief of Police on Monday.

Calvert was named interim chief after the city announced the retirement of Troy Link in March.

Calvert has worked at the Moberly Police Department for 14 years, according to the release. His experience includes the ranks of corporal and sergeant. He has served as a Narcotics Detective, SWAT Commander, DARE Officer and K9 Officer.

“He has distinguished himself as a trusted leader and valued colleague,” City Manager Michael Bugalski said in the release. “The loyalty he inspires is a testament to both his tremendous potential in this role, and the strong support he has within our department.”

The release states Calvert is a longtime advocate for officer training and development, as he has served as a Public Safety Generalist with the Department of Public Safety for 15 years.

He started his career after graduating from the Moberly Area Community College Law Enforcement Training Center in 2000. He also has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Bellevue University.

Calvert will be sworn in at a City Council meeting on June 16.

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Erika McGuire

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

No one is in custody Monday morning after a man was injured Sunday morning in a shooting in Downtown Columbia.

Columbia Police Department spokesperson Brian McNeill wrote in a Monday morning in an email there is no additional information at this time.

Officers responded to the shooting around 1:48 a.m. on East Walnut Street.

Lt. Derek Moore said at the scene the victim’s injuries were not life-threatening and he did not go to the hospital.

Elizabeth Lippelman is a bartender at two bars near where the shooting happened and says she heard dozens of shots fired.

“15 at least 15 to 20 were fired and it went on for 30 minutes or so,” Lippleman said.

Working in the area for a while now, Lippelman said Sunday’s shooting was not the first time she heard gunshots while on the clock and said it’s becoming more concerning.

“Kinda terrifying for people who work down there because we have huge windows in front of our building and you never really know when thats going to happen,” Lippelman said.

ABC 17 News spoke with people in the area who wanted to remain anonymous, but said the man was grazed in the head by the bullet.

Lacondance Houston, who lost her son, Deshon Houston to gun violence in Columbia. She says more needs to be done inside the bars to keep people safe.

“Having more security  especially security guards that are working inside the clubs because you know you have people that get out of hand and the police can’t come right away,” Lippelman added.

Lippelman agrees bars should be more proactive, but believes it goes beyond business owners.

“It has more to do with the amount of people getting solely on the street. a foot patrol at night or something of a couple cops to make sure everyone is safe,” Lippleman said. “Stricter curfew laws or stricter open container laws or maybe just more police monitoring at 3 a.m.,”

Houston wants the violence to stop and urging people to think before they act.

“Put the guns down we have all something to live for and I am quite sure y’all have something to live for so put the guns down,” Houston said.

Overall, Lippelman said she would like to see more police in the area when the bars close, stricter curfews and more tickets issued for open intoxication.

“I feel safe coming to work I don’t feel safe leaving majority of the time especially when I have to walk multiple blocks to get to my car at night and there is literal rounds being fired.,” Lippelman said.

An ABC 17 News reporter on scene saw at least 26 evidence markers placed along East Walnut between North Eighth and North Ninth streets—about two blocks from where police were originally called.

At least three vehicles with visible bullet holes were also seen on North Ninth Street.

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