Rural Justice Report

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This is a Crime Page dedicated to keeping our community informed about court cases and legal matters occurring in Cedar County and the surrounding areas. As residents of rural America, it is essential to stay aware of the issues affecting our neighborhoods. Knowledge fosters safety and community engagement.

Through this platform, we aim to illuminate local legal proceedings and empower our readers to stay informed. Please remember that all individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The El Dorado Springs Sun strives to present accurate information but cannot be held liable for any errors or omissions in our reporting.

Stay updated on local cases by subscribing to The El Dorado Springs Sun. Please send all corrections or typos to sunpub@centurylink.net, including the article information in the subject line.

Convicted: Toby Gannaway Receives 15-Year Sentence in St. Clair County Child Trafficking Case – But Is It Enough?

From the El Dorado Springs Newsroom

ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Mo. — Toby Lewis Gannaway of Weaubleau was sentenced on April 7, 2025, to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to a series of charges that include sexual trafficking of a child, statutory rape, statutory sodomy, and furnishing pornographic material to a minor. The offenses occurred between November and December 2024 and involved a minor under the age of 18.

Gannaway, 43, appeared before Senior Judge James Journey in St. Clair County Circuit Court and entered a guilty plea on five counts. Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Dysart represented the state, while defense attorney Jason Coatney of Springfield represented Gannaway.

Court records reveal that Gannaway paid a minor for a commercial sex act, engaged in multiple acts of sexual abuse, and sent explicit videos to the victim. The charges were supported by statements from multiple juvenile witnesses and officers from the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office.

Under the plea agreement, Gannaway received 15 years for the child trafficking conviction and 7 years each for the additional charges. All sentences are to run concurrently, meaning he will serve no more than 15 years in total.

Gannaway’s criminal history spans nearly two decades. In 2007, he was sentenced to four years in prison for second-degree burglary. In 2022, he pleaded guilty to felony drug possession and received supervised probation, which was later revoked. That sentence was replaced with a 7-year prison term to be served concurrently with his most recent convictions.

Despite these prior offenses, there is no public indication that Gannaway will be required to register as a sex offender. The absence of such a requirement has drawn quiet but serious concern from those familiar with the case.

While the charges and guilty pleas are now public records, questions remain within the community, particularly about whether justice was truly served.

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office—based in Osceola—had not been routinely publishing press releases to its social media page, citing issues with Facebook’s content policies. In a post-dated August 20, 2024, the department wrote, “Please check our website for Press Release Updates. Facebook has taken down some of the Press Releases due to others reporting them as not following Facebook rules and policies.” However, the agency has recently resumed posting updates online.

The release prompted a strong reaction locally, with community members expressing shock at the nature of the offenses and questioning whether the plea deal and 15-year sentence reflect the severity of the crimes.

On the day of sentencing, Judge Journey accepted Gannaway’s guilty plea and gave him credit for the 122 days he had already served in jail. Although he was previously under the supervision of Judge Baker for earlier hearings and probation revocation, a formal reassignment transferred the case to Judge Journey for final sentencing.

This is not the first time a plea deal has raised eyebrows in St. Clair County. With multiple counts involving a child victim, a prior criminal record, and revoked probation, some in the community are left wondering if a 15-year concurrent sentence is enough. Others are asking what mechanisms are in place to ensure the long-term safety of the public—and if Gannaway’s sentence represents a missed opportunity for stronger accountability.

As more press releases from the sheriff’s department surface and cases come to light, some residents are watching closely—not just the criminal proceedings but also the decisions of those elected to uphold the law.

Dual Arrests, Two Different Paths: Community Questions Justice in Eubanks Cases

From the El Dorado Springs Newsroom

STOCKTON, Mo.—Two individuals arrested in connection with a rural property investigation in Cedar County are now facing felony charges—but their paths through the legal system have taken notably different turns, prompted public concern and raising questions about consistency in the administration of justice.

Jessica L. Eubanks, arrested on April 8 during the execution of a search warrant north of Stockton, was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance. The warrant came after Cedar County deputies discovered evidence at the scene tied to a broader investigation into recent burglaries. Following her arrest and an initial court appearance before Judge Dawson, Eubanks was released on her own recognizance, meaning she was not required to post the $15,000 cash bond originally issued.

The court appearance was conducted by phone, as Judge Dawson was out of town. Eubanks appeared in person, pro se, and requested a public defender. Her next court date is set for April 18.

Law enforcement officers involved in the arrest included Chief Deputy Clay Jeffries, Sergeant Joseph Elder, Deputy Nance, and Stockton Police Chief Zakk Yokley. All of them played a central role in securing the property and attempting to locate a male suspect who fled the scene on foot.

That male suspect—later identified as Corey A. Eubanks—was apprehended two days later, on April 10, by the same team, according to a probable cause statement filed by Sgt. Elder and deputies encountered Corey Eubanks attempting to flee once again, this time on foot through a wooded area behind his property. Logs had been placed across his driveway, reportedly to hinder vehicle access. Despite multiple commands to stop, Eubanks continued running until ultimately surrendering after being threatened with a Taser.

Corey Eubanks is now facing multiple charges, including resisting arrest (felony), second-degree burglary (felony), tampering with physical evidence (felony), and stealing (misdemeanor). According to court documents, the burglary involved the theft of an aluminum ladder, game cameras, and a knife. Surveillance footage reportedly captured Corey Eubanks in the act.

Prosecuting Attorney Ty Gaither filed the charges against both individuals. Corey Eubanks, who remains in custody, was issued a $15,000 cash-only bond. His arraignment, like Jessica’s, was also conducted by phone on April 11 due to the court’s technical limitations. He, too, appeared pro se and applied for a public defender. A bond hearing and case management conference are set for April 18 before Judge Dawson.

Public Demands Answers in Former Deputy’s Case: Johnson’s Felony Charges Proceed, Questions of Fairness Linger

From the El Dorado Springs Newsroom

ST. CLAIR COUNTY — Nearly nine months after charges were filed, the felony case against former Cedar County Chief Deputy Jason Landon Johnson is still pending in the Missouri court system, prompting growing concerns among community members about the pace and transparency of the judicial process.

Johnson was arrested on August 8, 2024, following a warrant issued by Cedar County authorities. He faces four felony charges: third-degree domestic assault, unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree harassment, and armed criminal action.

The El Dorado Sun first reported on the case shortly after Johnson’s arrest. Cedar County Sheriff James McCrary confirmed that an outside investigation had been requested due to the conflict posed by Johnson’s former employment with the sheriff’s office. The investigation was led by the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control (DDCC). Johnson was placed on immediate suspension and is no longer employed by the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office.

According to officials, Corporal DeHaan compiled the initial investigative groundwork, whose report formed the basis for the charges now pending.

Due to potential conflicts of interest within Cedar County, the Missouri Supreme Court appointed 39th Associate Circuit Judge Matthew Kasper to oversee the early proceedings. In August 2024, Judge Kasper authorized the case file to be made public, allowing access to the formal charges.

The case has since been reassigned to Judge M. Blane Baker of St. Clair County. St. Clair County Prosecuting Attorney Daniel Dysart is serving as special prosecutor.

Johnson is next scheduled to appear in court on June 12, 2025, at 9 a.m. in St. Clair County Circuit Court. A previous court date in February 2025 was canceled without public explanation.

He remains free on a $5,000 bond posted through Dave Vinson Bail Bonds. Bond conditions included no contact with the alleged victim or any witnesses, and he was ordered to surrender all firearms.

As the case continues, The El Dorado Sun will remain committed to monitoring developments and providing factual updates for the public.

Was Justice Served? Community Questions Plea Deal in Mickey Self Case Prosecuted by Dysart

From the El Dorado Springs Newsroom

OSCEOLA, Mo. — On April 7, 2025, Mickey A. Self, 47, of Osceola, was sentenced to six years in the Missouri Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to one count of Abuse or Neglect of a Child with no sexual contact. The amended charge marked the conclusion of a case that originally involved multiple felony-level sex crimes, including rape and statutory sodomy.

The charges stemmed from allegations that Self sexually assaulted a juvenile over two years beginning in 2020. According to the official complaint filed by St. Clair County Prosecutor Daniel B. Dysart, Self was accused of engaging in sexual intercourse without consent and committing deviant acts of sexual gratification involving a minor under 17. The alleged offenses reportedly occurred between June 2020 and December 2022.

Self was arrested on August 2, 2023, by the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office and was initially held on a $50,000 cash-only bond. The court later modified his release to a surety bond under GPS monitoring and special conditions, including no contact with the victim and restrictions on where he could reside.

During the legal proceedings, the case saw numerous continuances and changes in defense counsel—from Nate Anderson to Ty Harden and later Adam Darrell Woody. The proceedings were overseen primarily by Judge M. Brandon Baker until the matter was reassigned to Senior Judge James K. Journey shortly before the final plea hearing.

On the day of sentencing, Self appeared with attorney Jason Coatney and entered a guilty plea to a single amended charge. Judge Journey handed down a six-year sentence with credit for 63 days of time served. No requirement to register as a sex offender was included.

While plea agreements are a common resolution in criminal court, the decision to reduce the original charges sparked a firestorm of public reaction.

The St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office—located in Osceola—had not published routine press releases on their social media, posting a statement back on August 20, 2024: “Please check our website for Press Release Updates. Facebook has taken down some of the Press Releases due to others reporting them as not following Facebook rules and policies.” but resumed doing so recently. Following Self’s sentencing, the department shared a post with Self’s mugshot and booking details. The post, though brief, drew hundreds of comments—most of them sharply critical of the outcome and Prosecutor Dysart’s handling of the case.

Among the voices:

• “COUNTY PROSECUTORS are ELECTED officials. Elections matter. Maybe the dude with all the connections and ‘friends’ isn’t the best choice…??” wrote Dorothy Gale.

• “If he admitted to all of the above, why was there a plea deal on the table? And he won’t even be a sex offender,” questioned Frank Wilt.

• Jessica Brotherton added, “This person is a danger to our community and will be out in less time than it takes to read all the comments. As long as we allow this sort of deal, this will continue… If he isn’t qualified to try the case, he should request a special prosecutor be appointed.”

A few defended the outcome. In part of a comment, Jacob Masten wrote, “I don’t even know how to respond to all the comments other than shame on all of you… why don’t you just think what you think and go on and worry about your own lives and families?”

Also worth noting is that while out on bail, Self was allowed to remove his GPS monitoring bracelet and was placed under pretrial supervision despite the severity of the original charges. Records show that the court granted repeated continuances throughout 2024 and into early 2025 before the eventual plea was entered.

This case raises broader questions in rural Missouri about how plea deals are reached, the prosecutorial discretion involved, and whether elected officials are being held to account—particularly in cases involving allegations of sexual abuse against minors.

The El Dorado Springs Sun strives to present accurate information but cannot be held liable for any errors or omissions in our reporting.

Stay updated on local cases by subscribing to The El Dorado Springs Sun. Please send all corrections or typos to sunpub@centurylink.net, including the article information in the subject line.