Rural Justice Report

Tracking Local Crime and Court Cases

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 shed light on 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; however, we 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.

Stockton woman booked on multiple warrants in Cedar County

From the El Dorado Springs Newsroom

Samantha Lee Gilbert, 35, of Stockton, was booked into the Cedar County Jail on Sept. 28 following her arrest by the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office.

Gilbert is facing multiple charges, including non-support, failure to register a motor vehicle or trailer annually with the Missouri Department of Revenue, operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner involving an accident, and failing to drive within a single lane on a roadway of three or more lanes resulting in an accident.

Sheriff’s Office records show warrants for the charges stem from incidents in 2024, with bonds set at $5,000 cash for the non-support charge, $500 cash for failure to register, $400 cash for careless and imprudent driving, and $1,000 cash for the lane violation.

No prior convictions or pending cases were found for Gilbert in Cedar County, Missouri, in the Missouri Case.net system.

As of press time, Gilbert remained in custody at the Cedar County Jail.

Joplin man booked into Cedar County Jail on driving charge

From the El Dorado Springs Newsroom

Joplin man held in Cedar County on driving-while-revoked warrant

Derick Cartwright, 25, of Joplin, was booked into the Cedar County Jail on Sept. 26 after an arrest by the Dade County Sheriff’s Office on a warrant for driving while revoked or suspended—second or third offense.

The records list the offense date as November 19, 2023. An earlier arrest date associated with the warrant appears as Aug. 12, 2025; Cartwright was booked into the Cedar County Jail on Sept. 26, 2025. Bond was set at $500, payable in cash only.

A review of available records did not show any past offenses for Cartwright.

The presiding judge and the prosecuting attorney were not listed in available court records as of Sept. 29, 2025.

As of press time, Cartwright remained held at the Cedar County Jail.

Rural Justice Report: Independence woman jailed on warrant in Cedar County

From the El Dorado Springs Newsroom

Stacey Beth Adams, 52, of Independence, was booked into the Cedar County Jail on Sept. 26 on a warrant for stealing leased or rented property. The original offense dates back to Nov. 28, 2018. The Cedar County Sheriff’s Office arrested her.

Court records show Adams entered a guilty plea to the charge in Cedar County Circuit Court on July 13, 2020, before Judge David R. Munton. Prosecuting Attorney Ty Gaither handled the case. Adams was sentenced to five years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The sentence was suspended, and she was placed on supervised probation for a period of five years. She was also ordered to pay restitution.

Since that time, Adams has repeatedly appeared before Judge Munton on allegations of probation violation. Records show probation violations were filed in 2020, 2024, and early 2025. In July 2024, the court revoked her probation but again suspended the execution of the sentence, reinstating her probation with new conditions. Multiple warrants were issued for alleged violations, including failure to appear and failure to comply with probation directives.

Adams’ probation was ultimately revoked in January 2025. She has continued to face probation violation proceedings through 2024 and 2025, with filings by Prosecuting Attorney Gaither.

As of press time, Adams remained held at the Cedar County Jail.

Judge issues capias in probation case; Barnes booked in Cedar County

From the El Dorado Springs Newsroom

Jason Ryan Barnes, 45, of Everton, was booked into the Cedar County Jail on Sept. 25 on capias warrants originating from Dade County in a 2021 felony case. Records list the arresting agency as the Dade County Sheriff’s Office, with the arrest occurring on Sept. 22.

Barnes is being held on the underlying charges of second-degree burglary and stealing $750 or more, both Class D felonies, alleged to have occurred on June 18, 2021.

Court records show Barnes pleaded guilty on April 6, 2022, in Dade County Circuit Court before Judge David R. Munton. The court suspended execution of a five-year Department of Corrections sentence and placed him on five years of supervised probation. On Dec. 6, 2023, after a probation violation hearing, the court revoked probation and ordered a five-year sentence with a 120-day callback. An order entered March 7, 2024, again suspended execution of the sentence and returned Barnes to five years of supervised probation.

In 2024 and 2025, multiple probation citations and violation filings followed. On February 25, 2025, Barnes admitted to the violations; the court continued him on probation, extended the term by one year, and amended the conditions. On Sept. 22, 2025, after the state filed a motion to revoke probation, Judge Munton issued a capias warrant. A probation-violation hearing is scheduled for Oct. 8, 2025, at 10 a.m. in Dade County.

Prosecutor of record on the 2025 revocation filings is Dade County Prosecuting Attorney Marcy Florence Greenwade. The original felony information was filed in 2022 by then-Prosecuting Attorney Kaitlin Staley Greenwade.

Past offenses: Court records also show June 27, 2017, felony convictions in Dade County for possession of a controlled substance (Felony D) and unlawful possession of a firearm (Felony D). Barnes received a two-year sentence from the Department of Corrections on those counts.

As of press time, the individual was still being held at the Cedar County Jail.

Shannyn Stone held in Cedar County Jail amid new and prior cases

From the El Dorado Springs Newsroom

Shannyn Stone, 54, of Stockton, was booked into the Cedar County Jail on Sept. 23 on a charge of second-degree harassment. She was arrested by the Cedar County Sheriff’s Office and is being held on a $10,000 cash-only bond.

Court records show that Stone has a history of legal troubles in Cedar County. In August 2024, she entered an Alford plea before Judge David Munton to a felony charge of unlawful use of a weapon – subsection 4 – exhibiting. She was sentenced to four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, with execution of the sentence suspended, and placed on five years of supervised probation. Prosecuting Attorney Ty Steven Gaither handled the case.

Since that time, Stone has faced several court actions related to protection orders. In March 2024, an ex parte order of protection was issued against her, followed by a full order of protection in April 2024. Judge Dawson presided over those hearings.

Her current harassment case is also being prosecuted by Gaither. Stone is represented by defense attorney Tad Morlan. Judge Dawson is scheduled to oversee upcoming hearings, including a bond reduction hearing on Oct. 1.

A probation revocation hearing on her prior case is also set for Nov. 10 in Cedar County.

As of press time, Stone remained held in the Cedar County Jail.

Cedar County man charged with property damage, stealing

From the El Dorado Springs Newsroom

Levi Rylee Cameron, 25, was booked into the Cedar County Jail on Sept. 23 on charges of first-degree property damage and stealing.

Court records allege that Cameron caused more than $1,300 in damage to a rental home in Jerico Springs in July 2025, including broken sinks, doors, windows, and drywall, and left animal waste inside the property. He is also accused of stealing furniture and household items valued at more than $500, including a dryer, bed sets, and other furnishings.

Cameron appeared Sept. 24 for arraignment via Webex before Judge Dawson. Prosecuting Ty Gaither filed the complaint in Cedar County Circuit Court. Defense attorney Keegan Whipple has entered an appearance on behalf of Cameron. A bond reduction hearing is scheduled for Oct. 1 at the Cedar County Courthouse in Stockton.

Court filings indicate that Cameron has no prior criminal convictions beyond the current charges in Cedar County.

As of press time, Cameron remained in custody at the Cedar County Jail on a $10,000 cash or surety bond.