ST. CLAIR COUNTY SHERIFF

Sheriff Scott Keeler reported deputies made six arrests and took multiple reports during the weeks of November 17, 2020 through November 23, 2020.

Arrests

Daniel Wire – On November 19, Daniel Wire, 56, Harrisonville, was arrested on a Felony charge for Possession of a Controlled Substance Except 35 Grams or Less of Marijuana/Synthetic Cannabinoid. Daniel was booked and released pending formal charges.

The arrest was made after a St. Clair County deputy performed a traffic stop on a vehicle that Daniel was the driver of, for multiple failure to signal violations. Upon making contact with him, the St. Clair County deputy noted Daniel was acting agitated and that he couldn’t stop moving. Daniel denied being under the influence of any kind of drugs, but gave verbal consent to search the vehicle. The search of the vehicle revealed a pink glass pipe with a crystal like substance, a small bag containing marijuana, and a small plastic bag containing a white crystal like substance.

The pipe and the small plastic bag field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Austin Rhodes – On November 19, Austin Rhodes, 19, Lowry City, was arrested on a St. Clair County Warrant for a Felony charge of Statutory Rape or Attempted Statutory Rape – 1st Degree – Person Less than 14 Years of Age. The bond was set at $25,000 cash only.

The arrest was made after a St. Clair County deputy received a report from a local parent that their daughter had been raped. Austin Rhodes was named as the assailant, and a report was taken alongside evidence further incriminating Austin was collected.

Ashley Nelson- On November 21, Ashley Nelson, 40, Overland Park, KS, was arrested on a Felony charge for Possession of a Controlled Substance Except 35 Grams or Less of Marijuana/Synthetic Cannabinoid. Ashley was booked and released pending formal charges.

The arrest was made after after a St. Clair County deputy received a call for service in El Dorado Springs in regards to a suspicious person trespassing on a property. The deputy made contact with the reporting party, Cammie Housh, via phone, who stated that an unknown female had climbed over a security gate onto the property and knocked on the door. Upon arriving on scene, the deputy located the vehicle that Ashley Nelson was the driver of. Ashley gave verbal consent to search the vehicle, and was ordered to stand at the front of the vehicle pending said search. The St. Clair County deputy did find a glass pipe and a plastic baggy, both containing a white crystal-like substance, in front of the vehicle, where Ashley Nelson and Benjamin Grace were standing.

Benjamin Grace- On November 21, Benjamin Grace, 42, Lawrence, KS, was arrested on a Felony charge for Possession of a Controlled Substance Except 35 Grams or Less of Marijuana/Synthetic Cannabinoid. Benjamin was booked and released pending formal charges.

The arrest was made after after a St. Clair County deputy received a call for service in El Dorado Springs in regards to a suspicious person trespassing on a property. The deputy made contact with the reporting party, Cammie Housh, via phone, who stated that an unknown female had climbed over a security gate onto the property and knocked on the door. Upon arriving on scene, the deputy located a vehicle that Benjamin Grace was a passenger in. The driver of the vehicle, Ashley Nelson, gave verbal consent to search the vehicle, and both Ashley and Benjamin were ordered to stand at the front of the vehicle pending the completion of the search. The St. Clair County deputy did find a glass pipe and a plastic baggy, both containing a white crystal-like substance, in front of the vehicle, where Ashley and Benjamin were standing.

Matthew Chiles- On November 22, Matthew Chiles, 40, Branson, was arrested on a Misdemeanor charge for Trespass – 1st Degree. Matthew was booked and released pending formal charges.

The arrest was made after a St. Clair County deputy received a call for service in regards to a suspicious vehicle sitting on NW 1126 Road. The reporting party, Lee Hilty, stated the vehicle had been sitting on the roadway for multiple hours. Upon arrival, the deputy noticed a box of crossbow bolts sitting in the passenger seat, and called for Conservation to assist.

Shortly after, Conservation and the St. Clair County deputy observed three deer running through a field, and a man, later identified as Matthew Chiles, chasing them. Matthew was taken into custody at that time for trespassing, and his hunting gear was collected from the woods nearby. Matthew did admit to being on the property and hunting.

Samantha Leonard- On November 23, Samantha Leonard, 19, Webb City, was arrested on a St. Clair County Warrant for a Felony charge of Arson – 1st Degree. Bond was set at $15,000 cash or surety.

The original arrest was made when St. Clair County deputies responded to a structure fire on B Highway. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with David Leonard, who stated that while he was working at his computer desk, David noticed that his security camera flickering after Samantha Leonard was noted to have gone upstairs with a box of matches. Shortly after, Samantha left the property and the fire was reported to be burning upstairs.

Further investigation led St. Clair County deputies to find and make contact with Samantha Leonard, who admitted in her interview that she did start the fire in the storage room upstairs, and drew a diagram explaining where she started it.

Burglary in Twin Oaks Harbor

On November 18, St. Clair County deputies responded to Twin Oaks Harbor in reference to a burglary in progress. Upon arrival, the deputies made contact with the maintenance worker, Wayne Russell, who reported that a suspicious vehicle had been identified in regards to a possible theft in a nearby shed.

The shed, owned by Joshua Adams, was found by St. Clair County deputies with the door off of the hinges. Joshua stated that two trolling motors, a leaf blower, and a roll of copper wire were missing from the shed. An approximate value of items stolen was not given at that time.

Property Damage in Twin Oaks Harbor

On November 20, a St. Clair County deputy responded to a call for service in reference to property damage in Twin Oaks Harbor.

Upon arrival, the deputy met with Bobby Farmer, who stated that someone had cut part of his exhaust pipe, and that he believed it was in attempt to get to the converter on his truck. Photographs of the exhaust were taken, and the reported cost of damages was approximated at $250.00.

Disclaimer: Arrest records are public information. Any indication of an arrest does not mean the individual identified has been convicted of a crime. All persons arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sheriff Keeler urges those with any related information to these cases or any others to contact the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line, 417-646-5832, or email to tips@scsomo.org.