I’m proud to submit to you this month’s “Opening Statement,” an opportunity to stay informed about the criminal justice system and how the Audrain County Prosecuting …
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I’m proud to submit to you this month’s “Opening Statement,” an opportunity to stay informed about the criminal justice system and how the Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office handles crime, accountability and justice issues for our citizens.
In 2024, our office filed approximately 1,200 criminal cases, and about 600 traffic tickets. This does not include or count all the cases our office reviewed and did not file, and those cases where investigations are ongoing. We file about 92% of the cases received from our law enforcement partners, but each file is carefully considered based on the evidence, testimony, witnesses and the law as it exists. With reports coming in from Mexico Public Safety, the Audrain County Sheriff’s Office, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Conservation, and numerous State agencies, we stay busy reviewing and making decisions on criminal cases to prosecute, or those we are unable to prosecute. Each year, we have about 8-10% of cases that are referred to the office that are not prosecuted for various reasons.
2024 brought an alarming rise in the amount of fentanyl cases our office received – and the cases for distribution, sales and delivery of fentanyl with significant quantities of the deadly drug to harm or kill increasing as well. Fentanyl is a concentrated and powerful drug, which takes only the equivalent of a couple of grains of salt to cause the body to react with slow or depressed breathing, sedation, and in an overdose situation, coma and death. This drug is fast-acting, taking only a short time to affect the body. My office considers distribution and delivery of this drug to be a priority – because it only takes one pill to kill. Many of the pills are crudely made, but resemble other drugs. There is no quality control with street drugs made from trafficked ingredients, which makes them even more dangerous.
Domestic Assault crimes remained stable in 2024. Our office filed six cases of Domestic Assault in the First Degree, where there is serious physical injury caused or an attempt to cause serious physical injury. Domestic Assault in the Second Degree, involving serious injury by strangulation or through other means, resulted in 21 cases. 16 other felony domestic assault cases, where physical injuries resulted, were filed during the year. There were 42 misdemeanor domestic assault cases, resulting in minor injuries, threats or through other means of assault. Each of these cases has a victim and an impact on a family in Audrain County, and we search for justice and accountability for these families. Our agency partners, such as ACCIS, help provide services for victims and families impacted by domestic violence by providing counseling, support, resources, and a safe place to be away from violence in their homes.
Driving While Intoxicated cases continue to be a common crime in Audrain County, and Mexico Public Safety, the Audrain County Sheriff’s Office, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol continue to catch impaired and intoxicated drivers on a regular basis. Although there have been years of public education about the dangers of impaired driving, these cases persist. In 2024, there were 51 DWI cases filed by our office. If you drink, don’t drive – impaired driving kills and injures hundreds in Missouri every year.
Our office works hard to keep the community safe by prosecuting those who break our laws, and looking critically, carefully and judiciously when it comes to filing cases. We hold ourselves to proof beyond a reasonable doubt, because that’s what a jury of Audrain County citizens has to find at trial. We are only able to take action on those cases we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt were against Missouri law. Our community’s law enforcement officers are proactive and present in the community in Mexico and
throughout Audrain County, protecting and serving with honor and integrity. Criminal cases and investigations are not all of the things they do, either. Our law enforcement officers are often asked to be mental health workers, road safety crews & livestock wranglers, teachers, mentors, and to provide a positive role model for our communities.
Our office staff is amazing, and you will not find a more dedicated group of public servants than the folks who work for our community in my office. Assistant Prosecutors Shelby Park and Jordan Duenckel work with me to represent Audrain County in court daily. Senior Legal Assistant Wendi Burton and clerk Kara Winterbower keep our office running, the documents filed, and the schedule in place, and we couldn’t function without their hard work, expertise and common sense. Victim Advocate Leigh Thomas works with all of our victims in cases, offering communication from the office and resources to help them heal and seek justice. Investigator Heather Hobbs serves as law enforcement liaison and handles discovery, ensuring our obligations to defendants and their attorneys are fulfilled.
There have been changes in 2024, also. Our Regional Child Support Enforcement office closed at the end of December, ending a long-term, successful project for our County’s families. The work will continue, but be serviced from the Boone County office in the future. Also this month, one of our long-term employees left the office – Nikki Chism – for another opportunity. Nikki’s been working in our Courthouse since she was 16, and her expertise, friendliness, leadership and positive attitude will be missed. We wish her the best in her new job.
It was a busy year in 2024 for many reasons. Our office is dedicated to seeking justice for all citizens of Audrain County, and is committed to working with law enforcement to keep our County a safe place to live, work, own a business, and raise a family. Best wishes for a safe, productive and prosperous 2025!