I’m Jacob Shellabarger, Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney, with another look inside the criminal justice system in our community. Today, a look back at 2025 and a look forward to 2026 as we continue to hold offenders accountable, protect and support victims, and ensure our County remains a great place to live, work, raise a family, get healthy and relax sometimes, too. Our office has a singular focus – justice for all of Audrain County.

Our team, from prosecutors, legal assistants, a victim advocate and investigator, works daily to ensure cases are dealt with fairly, quickly and resolved in a way that respects justice. In the courtrooms at your Courthouse, we are balancing multiple appearances with multiple judges over a given week. Sometimes we have six or more total dockets a day, in Audrain County and in other counties. Most courts are still conducted in person, in the Courthouse, although we often appear in other counties through videoconferencing, which saves us travel and logistics time. Although WebEx video conferencing has made it easier to appear in multiple locations, the schedules of multiple judges, different dockets at different times, and technology issues have created additional challenges. Our court clerks do a masterful job getting judges, courtrooms, jails, defendants and support systems in place to ensure successful, speedy dockets.

An increasing issue in 2025, which we’ll continue to see in our community in 2026, is what some call “quality of life” crimes – trespassing, stealing and property damage. Trespassing is a misdemeanor offense, usually punishable by a fine, but can be punished by a jail sentence. Mexico, and Audrain County, have seen an increase in trespassing cases over the past few years. Although there are multiple reasons, homelessness, mental health issues, poverty and personal choices of defendants lead to these situations. Commonly, businesses that are open to the public have an issue of stealing, peace disturbance or loitering with homeless individuals. These businesses and organizations are within their rights to ask that people be barred or banned from their property, and the police will arrest those who violate others’ property rights in this way. If individuals choose to break the law, there must be consequences.

Stealing from businesses continues, from both large retailers like Walmart as well as small, independent shops and businesses. If these are reported to law enforcement, our office will consider these reports and prosecute where possible to prove a crime occurred. Stealing from individuals also happens, and where possible, we will prosecute those offenders as well. Property damage and vandalism affect pride in our community, property values, and the real and rising costs of repair, cleaning and return the property to its prior condition. As a system, we must protect these basic rights to ensure justice under the law to allow liberty and the pursuit of happiness to flourish for all of our citizens.

When I file a case, I want to make sure we can quickly and efficiently process all the police reports, evidence, statements, and provide them to the defense as soon as possible. Discovery is the process by which the state provides any and all evidence in the case to the defense, and that includes the defense providing any evidence that it may have to the state, to avoid surprises on either side. As a part of this process, our office uses a case management software system provider, Karpel Solutions from St. Louis, to make it easier for law enforcement to submit, review and monitor evidence and cases submitted to our office through a secure, online portal. Since 2007, our office has been trying to find systems, technology and efficient ways to do more with less, saving the taxpayers’ money and making sure we are focusing our efforts on public safety, law enforcement, and keeping the dockets moving.

In 2025, our office evaluated nearly 1,500 criminal cases for prosecution, with cases coming from the Mexico Department of Public Safety, Audrain County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Corrections, and numerous state agencies, including Revenue, Employment Security, Children and Family Services, Labor and Conservation. This includes everything from traffic tickets to property crimes, stealing, assault, sexual assault and domestic violence, and homicide. These cases involve law enforcement officers, victims, and regular citizens like you as witnesses, and we take that responsibility seriously. As we can only move forward on cases we can prove, their testimony is crucial – jurors want to hear from real people, see the evidence they bring, and listen intently to real experiences.

My staff and I are working to find ways to more efficiently and thoroughly process, evaluate, prosecute and bring accountability to our cases. Some of those developments include new technology. Our office chooses to serve as a test pilot for innovative projects involving our case management system, where all of our information is stored, categorized and disclosed to the defense. These choices position Audrain County, and our office, as an agile and responsive testing ground for new ways to bring value to citizens. Each step we take, technology and otherwise, is an attempt to be a good steward of public trust, and public funds, in representing each of you as citizens.

Enjoy this holiday season with family and friends, and rest easy knowing that a team of dedicated professionals in my office and across our criminal justice system, will protect your, your family’s, and all citizens rights while you celebrate. Take some time to thank these servants in public safety, from law enforcement officers, dispatchers, first responders and probation and corrections officers who keep Audrain County productive and safe. Just a few moments of humanity and appreciation can go a long way.