Rural Justice Report UPDATE

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.

Update: El Dorado Springs man’s felony assault case delayed again

From the El Dorado Springs Newsroom

The felony assault case against 44-year-old Trevor Lee Barker of El Dorado Springs, originally filed after a December 28, 2024, altercation that left 19-year-old Jastin Coleman with severe head injuries, continues to move slowly through the Cedar County court system.

Court records show the case has faced multiple continuances throughout 2025. Several scheduled hearings, including preliminary hearings and case management conferences, have been pushed back due to attorney conflicts and defense requests. The most recent hearing, set for August 20, was again continued. The case is now scheduled for a case management conference on November 5, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. in Cedar County Circuit Court. Judge Dawson is presiding.

Attorney Nicholas L. Swischer represents Barker. Earlier in the year, Keegan L. Whipple also entered an appearance on behalf of the defense before later filing a motion to withdraw. Cedar County Prosecuting Attorney Ty Gaither is handling the prosecution.

Barker initially appeared in court in January while in custody, where he requested and was granted a bond reduction from $35,000, which was previously set as cash only, to $3,000, which could be secured by cash or surety. He later posted bond through a bail bonds company. At the time of his arrest, court records also noted prior warrants for failure to appear in other counties.

The charge against Barker remains one count of second-degree assault, a Class D felony under Missouri law, stemming from allegations that he struck Coleman during a basement altercation, causing the teenager to fall and suffer a brain bleed.

With the case now delayed until November, questions remain from the community about when the matter will move forward. The El Dorado Springs Newsroom will continue to monitor this case and provide updates as proceedings develop.

Chastain case pushed back again, competency still under review

From The El Dorado Springs Newsroom

The case of Robert James Chastain, charged with attempted statutory sodomy involving a child under the age of 12, continues to face delays as the court weighs his competency to stand trial.

Chastain was first arrested on January 2, 2025, after allegations tied to an incident reported in December 2022. He has remained in custody at the Cedar County Jail since early January, after his bond was revoked due to concerns raised in a mental health evaluation.

Judge Gary A. Troxell is presiding over the case in Cedar County Circuit Court. Prosecuting Attorney Ty Gaither represents the State, while Chastain is represented by attorneys Keegan Whipple, Anderson, and, more recently, Mary J. Corwin, who filed an entry of appearance in August 2025.

Court records show multiple continuances throughout 2024 and 2025, with hearings repeatedly rescheduled as questions over Chastain’s competency remain unresolved. A motion hearing on the issue was argued on August 14, 2025, and taken under advisement by Judge Troxell. The matter was then reset for September 5, but was again continued.

The next significant date in the case is now scheduled for March 20, 2026, when a case management conference and status hearing are set to take place. At that time, Judge Troxell is expected to determine the next steps, depending on the outcome of competency evaluations and legal arguments from both sides.

Chastain’s case had previously been set for jury trial in February 2025, but the trial was canceled following the competency concerns. The State has indicated it intends to move forward, pointing to admissible statements from the child victim and expected testimony at trial.

This case remains active in the Cedar County Circuit Court. The Newsroom will continue monitoring developments as they occur.

Vernon County woman’s child abuse case sees delays, preliminary hearing reset for October

From the El Dorado Springs Newsroom

Tonya Lynn Reynolds, also known as Reynolds-Jarred, of Sheldon, Missouri, is facing a Class B felony charge of abuse or neglect of a child following her arrest in March 2025. The Vernon County Sheriff’s Department initially reported that deputies, alongside Family Services, discovered a child with multiple broken bones requiring urgent medical attention.

Reynolds was arrested on March 18, 2025, and initially held on a $50,000 cash-only bond. The case has since seen multiple continuances. In March, Vernon County Judge Brandon B. Fisher allowed her release on her own recognizance with strict conditions, including house arrest monitored through E-Hawk and no contact with the victim or any minors. Conditions were later adjusted to permit limited outings, such as trips to local stores.

Court records show several delays throughout the summer. On May 22, 2025, Prosecuting Attorney Brandi McInroy appeared on behalf of the State, while Reynolds was represented first by attorney Tecchio and later by Special Public Defender Frank T. Yankoviz. Hearings in May and August were continued and rescheduled for later dates.

Most recently, on August 28, 2025, the case was again pushed back. Reynolds appeared in person with attorney Yankoviz, and Judge Fisher reset the preliminary hearing for October 9. A later order has now scheduled the preliminary hearing for October 30, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. in Vernon County Circuit Court before Judge Fisher.

The case remains pending, with the defendant presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.