Barton County Prosecuting Attorney

Barton County Prosecuting Attorney The Barton County Prosecuting Attorney's office is located at 201 West 10th Street in Lamar, Missouri.

03/12/2026

On March 12, 2026, Jeremy R. Vanmeter entered a guilty plea to the class A felony of 1st degree endangering the welfare of a child (death of a child) for events occurring on March 31, 2021, at 600 East 17th, here in Lamar. Vanmeter was watching his 16-month-old child, and the child was placed in a pack n play. The top of the pack n play was covered with a side rail from a crib, and a computer tower was placed on top of the side rail for weight to keep the child from climbing out of the pack n play. Approximately 4 hours after placing the child in the pack n play, Vanmeter checked on the child and found the child’s neck was caught between the top of the pack n play and the crib rail and the child was not breathing. The child was transported to Cox Barton County hospital where the child was pronounced dead. Sentencing for Vanmeter has been set for May 14, 2026.

12/10/2025

On December 10, 2025, a preliminary hearing was held in the Barton County Associate Court in the matter of State versus Seth Patrick Wilkins. After hearing evidence, Judge Charles Curless found probable cause and bound the case over to the Circuit Court of Barton County. Wilkins is scheduled to be arraigned on January 15, 2026. Wilkins is charged in count I with theFelony of so**my in the first- degree involving a child less than 12 years old and in count II with the class A felony of child molestation in the first- degree involving a child less than 12 years old.

05/15/2025

Daniel Thomas Williams entered a guilty plea in two separate cases on May 15, 2025, in the Circuit Court of Barton County, Missouri. Williams pleaded guilty as follows: to the class D felony of endangering the welfare of a child, for events occurring on December 21, 2021; to the class D felony of receiving stolen property for events occurring on December 26, 2021; to the class D felony of unlawful possession of a concealable firearm for events occurring on December 26, 2021; and to the class D felony of burglary 2nd degree for events occurring on August 29, 2023.

Judge David Munton sentenced Williams to 7 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on each charge. Williams is being held in the Barton County Jail awaiting transportation to the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Hiran Christopher Ruth appeared in front of Judge David Munton on May 15, 2025 for a probation violation hearing on three separate cases. Ruth admitted to violating conditions of his probation. Judge Munton found that Ruth violated conditions of his probation, revoked his probation and executed the sentences. Ruth will be serving 7 year sentences on each of the three cases. Ruth is being held in the Barton County Jail awaiting transportation to the Missouri Department of Corrections.

03/26/2025

March 26, 2025

Sarah Elizabeth Bohrn entered a guilty plea in three separate cases on January 16, 2025, in the Circuit Court of Barton County, Missouri. Bohrn pleaded guilty as follows: to the class D felony of possession of a controlled substance, morphine, for events occurring on February 14, 2018, in Lamar, Missouri; to the class E felony of resisting arrest for events occurring on July 16, 2022; to the class E felony of resisting arrest for events occurring on September 21, 2022.

On March 26, 2025, Judge David Munton sentenced Bohrn to 7 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for possession of a controlled substance; to 4 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for resisting arrest; to 4 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for resisting arrest, all terms to run consecutively. The Court retained jurisdiction under Section 217.362 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. Bohrn is being held in the Barton County jail awaiting transportation to the Department of Corrections.

All three cases were investigated by officers of the Lamar Police Department.

Mike Smalley

11/26/2024

November 26, 2024

A jury trial was held on November 25, 2024, for Jerry Lyn Rowell. Rowell was charged with 1 count of trafficking drugs in the second degree, methamphetamine, and 2 separate counts of possession of a controlled substance, oxycodone and hydrocodone for events occurring on November 8, 2020. The jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutes and returned guilty verdicts on all 3 counts. Judge David Munton ordered a Sentence Assessment Report to be prepared, and sentencing is set for January 16, 2025.

The case was investigated by Trooper Artie Torbeck and Trooper Jason Krehbiel of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Mike Smalley

07/26/2024

July 26, 2024

Lane R. Bronson entered a guilty plea on October 7, 2021, in the Circuit Court of Barton County, Missouri. Bronson pleaded guilty to the felony of murder in the 2nd degree for causing the death of Terry G. Harless. Harless was shot and killed on July 13, 2020, at his residence in Lamar, Missouri. The investigation was conducted by the Lamar Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

On July 23, 2024, Judge Dean Dankelson sentenced Bronson to 20 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, concurrent with his sentence imposed by the United States District Court on a separate criminal matter.

Bronson is the second of three defendants who have been sentenced in this case. The third defendant, David William Morris, is currently in custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Morris will be returning to Barton County to answer his charges in this case.

Mike Smalley

07/18/2024

July 18, 2024

Tre Robert Ackerson entered a guilty plea on July 18, 2024, in the Circuit Court of Barton County, Missouri. Ackerson pleaded guilty to the felony of murder in the 2nd degree for causing the death of Terry G. Harless. Harless was shot and killed on July 13, 2020, at his residence in Lamar, Missouri. The investigation was conducted by the Lamar Police Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Judge David Munton sentenced Ackerson to 20 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, concurrent with his sentence imposed by the United States District Court on a separate criminal matter.

Mike Smalley

11/03/2023

A jury trial was held on November 2, 2023, for Herbert G. Scholes. Scholes was charged with 2 counts of stealing for events occurring on October 9, 2021. After deliberation, the jury found Scholes guilty of stealing on both counts. The jury assessed punishment at 3 years in the Department of Corrections for Count I and 7 years in the Department of Corrections for Count II. Judge David Munton ordered a Sentence Assessment Report to be prepared and sentencing was set for Scholes on December 21, 2023.
The case was investigated by Corporal Scott Brown of the Missouri Department of Conservation and Mike Hatfield, investigator for J. B. Hunt Transportation Services.

10/12/2023

Harold Edward Henson entered a guilty plea on August 17, 2023, in the Circuit Court of Barton County, Missouri. Henson, 71 years of age, pleaded guilty to the felony of statutory so**my for events occurring on September 21, 2021, in Lamar, Missouri involving a child under the age of 14. The investigation was conducted by Steve Shaw, Lamar Police Department, with the assistance of other Lamar police officers and Children’s Division.

On October 12, 2023, Judge David Munton sentenced Henson to 25 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Henson is being held in a county jail awaiting transportation to the Department of Corrections.

Mike Smalley

06/30/2023

On June 29, 2023, a jury trial was held in the Barton County Circuit Court. Colton J Taylor was charged with felony resisting arrest. After deliberating, the jury found Colton J Taylor guilty. Sentencing has been set for July 14, 2023. Taylor remains in the Barton County Jail awaiting sentencing. This case was investigated by Sergeant Oliver Cornell and Sergeant Dan Graham of the Lamar Police Department. Chief Deputy Justin Ersham and Deputy Toby Luce of the Barton County Sheriff's Office assisted in the investigation.

05/08/2023

Chase William Warner entered a guilty plea on March 16, 2023, in the Circuit Court of Barton County, Missouri. Warner, 32 years of age, pleaded guilty to the class B felony of trafficking in the first degree for events occurring on August 30, 2022, in Golden City, Missouri. Deputy Toby Luce arrested Warner on outstanding warrants and located 62 grams of methamphetamine in Warner’s backpack.

On May 4, 2023, Judge David Munton sentenced Warner to 30 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, subject to Section 217.362 RSMo. /Long term treatment Programs. Warner is being held in a county jail awaiting transportation to the Department of Corrections.
Mike Smalley

03/22/2023

Daniel Eugene Mankey entered a guilty plea on March 22, 2023, in the Circuit Court of Barton County, Missouri. Mankey, 62 years of age, pleaded guilty to three separate counts of the felony of so**my in the first degree for events that occurred between November 1, 2020, and June 24, 2021. Barton County Sheriff’s Office investigated a complaint that Mankey was inappropriately touching a female child who was less than 12 years old. The investigation revealed that the crimes occurred at a residence in rural Barton County.

Also on March 22, 2023, Judge David Munton sentenced Mankey on all 3 counts to life imprisonment without eligibility for probation or parole until he has served not less than thirty years of the sentence, or when the defendant reaches age 75, and has served at least 15 years. Mankey is being held in a county jail awaiting transportation to the Department of Corrections.

Mike Smalley

Address

201 West 10th Street
Lamar, MO
64759

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+14176825000

Website

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