Court News
Randy Lee Liles, Jr.
A Hartville man has received a four year sentence to the Department of Corrections.According to a Wright County Sheriff’s Office report, Randy Lee Liltes, Jr., of Hartville plead guilty to child molestation in the fourth degree back on Monday, March 18.Wright County Judge Craig Carter, of the 44th...
Cevin Briley
Mansfield man has been arrested after the Wright County Special Operations Group executed a narcotics search warrant on Tuesday, March 19 in Mansfield.According to a Wright County Sheriff’s Office report, Cevin Briley, of Mansfield, was arrested and charged with distribution of a controlled...
A Phelps County jury has delivered a guilty verdict in the Wright County murder case from back on June 1, 2022.
According to a Wright County Sheriff’s Report, the Phelps County jury delivered the guilty verdict on March 12 in the case of Nick Owens, 60, of Sparta.
He was convicted of second degree murder with the jury declaring a 25-year sentence in the Department of Corrections.
They also declared a 15-year sentence for an armed criminal action charge.
The murder of his nephew, Zachery Owens, a Mansfield barber, occurred south of Mansfield back in 2022. Nick Owens reportedly was attempting to steal a trailer from Zachery’s property, and when he was approached, he reportedly shot his nephew in the chest.
Due to the change of venue request, the trial was moved from Wright to Phelps County.
A sentencing ruling from the 25th Judicial Circuit will take place on April 24, pending the completion of a sentencing assessment report by Probation and Parole.
The case was thoroughly investigated by Wright County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Kristi Akers.
Wright County Sheriff Sonny Byerley extends his deepest sympathies to the family of Zachery Owens, acknowledging the pain and loss they have endured as a result of this tragic and senseless crime.
A Phelps County jury has delivered a guilty verdict in the Wright County murder case from back on June 1, 2022.According to a Wright County Sheriff’s Report, the Phelps County jury delivered the guilty verdict on March 12 in the case of Nick Owens, 60, of Sparta.He was convicted of second degree...
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office announced several arrests in relation to burglary.According to a report, back on Feb. 16, Detective Long, Deputy Martin and Deputy Wilson responded to a burglary in progress on Highway EE. Upon arrival, the suspects had fled in a black vehicle.Detective Long was...
Daniel Smith
A Mountain Grove was indicted by a Douglas County jury on Feb. 14 for charges dating back to Dec. 17, 2024.According to a Douglas County Sheriff’s Office report, Daniel Smith, 44, was arrested after being indicted by the jury for unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession...
Several candidates officially signed up by the Dec. 31, 2024 deadline to run for one of several Wright County city and school district positions up for election on April 8, 2025.Mountain GroveThere are several contested races on tap for the April election with the City of Mountain Grove.Incumbent...
Jason Osborn, formerly Leon Dronet Jr.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced today that his Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) unit successfully committed Jason Osborn to the Missouri Department of Mental Health after a Wright County Court found he met the criteria to be classified as a Sexually Violent Predator. The SVP Unit...
Brian Keith Minier
On Jan. 24, Sgt. Aaron Box and Detective Nathan Long attempted to contact Brian Keith Minier, 55, of Mountain Grove, regarding a burglary case they were investigating.According to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Report, Minier had an active warrant for absconding from Probation and Parole. It was...
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office recently made three arrests near the Wright County line.On Jan. 29, a search warrant was served on a residence in northern Douglas County on Old Highway 5, this according to a Douglas County Sheriff’s report.Floyd M Lansdown, Meichkala Rawlings and Jessie...
Wright County Associate Judge Lynette Veenstra noted that the Wright County court system had another busy year in 2024. This was included in a detailed report that she released to the public recently.Overall, the total number of cases were up from 2023. Judge Veenstra said that was primarily due to...