Attorney general, incoming Stoddard County prosecuting attorney discuss cases

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Stoddard County's prosecuting attorney-elect, Russ Oliver, met with Attorney General Chris Koster at his office in Jefferson City, Mo., recently.

"It was a very productive meeting," said Oliver, who defeated incumbent Briney Welborn in the Nov. 2 election. "We discussed how the two offices can better work together and the status of a few Stoddard County cases that are currently being prosecuted by his office. A seasoned prosecutor himself, Mr. Koster also offered firsthand trial strategies and advice about being a prosecutor."

During the meeting the two discussed specific cases, including Allen McCoy, who is accused of killing a Bernie, Mo., man. The case could be Stoddard County's first death penalty case. On Jan. 7, six days after he takes office, Oliver will present the cases against Allen McCoy and Angela McCoy for preliminary hearing to Judge Joe Z. Satterfield. Koster discussed various trial strategies for such cases.

Before becoming a state senator and then attorney general, Koster was the Cass County prosecutor. He became the Cass County prosecutor at age 30; Oliver will be 29 when he is sworn in Jan. 1.

Oliver has also visited several local prosecutor's offices to observe day-to-day operations.

"The local prosecutors have been very gracious in opening their doors and sharing which ideas work and which do not," Oliver said. "Each office has two or three things they do that no one else does. I plan on putting the best ideas to work for Stoddard County."

Oliver is the president of the Stoddard County Bar Association; his private law practice is in Bloomfield.