Briefly 8/8/18

Ex-Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens can't vote in Tuesday primary

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Former Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens apparently couldn't vote in the state's primary election.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported voting records indicate Greitens is still registered to vote in Jefferson City. No voting records indicate he has switched his registration to Warren County, where he and his family own a home in Innsbrook.

The Secretary of State's office said that means Greitens couldn't vote Tuesday. State law requires voters who move to another county to re-register to vote. The deadline for changing registrations was July 11.

Greitens resigned June 1 after months of controversy and facing a now-dismissed felony charge for invasion of privacy against a woman and numerous campaign fundraising irregularities.

A spokeswoman for Greitens' successor, Gov. Mike Parson, said the governor voted absentee in Polk County.

Missouri couple sentenced for illegal ginseng operation

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A southwest Missouri couple who illegally bought ginseng from Arkansas has been sentenced to a year of probation.

The Springfield News-Leader reported 77-year-old Kermit Schofield and his wife, 73-year-old Sandy Schofield, were sentenced Tuesday in a courtroom packed with supporters from their hometown.

The couple farms and sells herbs in Theodosia, a town of about 250 people near the Missouri-Arkansas border.

Federal prosecutors said between June 2013 and August 2015 the Schofields illegally bought more than 100 pounds of ginseng in Arkansas. Prosecutors say the couple bought the ginseng outside the permitted time frame for purchasing ginseng in Missouri, and they knew it was illegal transport ginseng out of Arkansas without a state certification.

As part of the sentence, the Schofields agreed to pay $65,000 in restitution and a $5,000 fine.

Kansas City mayor demands gun reform amid violent August

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas City Mayor Sly James is calling for gun reform after six people died and 22 were wounded in the first several days of August.

The Kansas City Star reported James expressed frustration with the city's gun violence in a press conference Monday with Police Chief Rick Smith.

The 74 homicides so far put Kansas City on pace for about 120 killings this year. The projection is under the 150 people killed in 2017, which was the city's most violent year since the early 1990s.

James said he's pressed lawmakers for gun reform many times, but there's no progress because of political ideology. He says he's considering making another attempt at passing local gun legislation, even though it would be pre-empted by state law and possibly antagonize rural legislators.

Electronic devices examined as duck boat inquiry continues

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Federal officials are reviewing cellphones, a camera and a recording device found with a duck boat that sank in a storm last month in southern Missouri, as part of investigations into the disaster that killed 17 people.

The National Transportation Safety Board provided few new details in a preliminary report issued Tuesday.

The SIM card from the video recording system on the vessel already has been examined. The agency said previously the recordings show the captain made a reference to looking at the weather radar prior to the tour of Table Rock Lake near Branson. Forecasts at the time included thunderstorm warnings.

But the NTSB said investigators are trying to determine if there is more information on the device's hard drive. It is unclear what more it might contain.

Missouri man charged with abusing boys he met through church

JOPLIN, Mo. -- A southwest Missouri man is charged with sexually abusing three boys he met through an Oklahoma church.

The Joplin Globe reported 29-year-old Matthew Galati of Joplin was arrested last week. He is jailed on a $150,000 cash-only bond on four counts of statutory sodomy with a child under 12 years old and two counts of second-degree statutory sodomy.

The charges stems from allegations made by three male members of a youth group at the New Beginnings Life Church In Miami, Oklahoma. The affidavit indicates most of the alleged abuse of the boys took place in Joplin.

Joplin police Capt. Trevor Duncan says three other alleged victims have been identified and that more charges are anticipated. No attorney is listed for Galati in online court records.

Driver charged in crash that killed woman, injured child

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- A driver has been charged in a northwest Missouri crash that killed a 29-year-old woman and injured an 8-year-old boy.

The St. Joseph News-Press reported 22-year-old Bronson Cooper of Faucett, Missouri, is charged with one count of second-degree involuntary manslaughter. Bond is set at $250,000. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.

St. Joseph police said Cooper's car struck the woman's vehicle around 11 a.m. Friday. Police say speed was a factor. The woman died at the scene and the child was flown to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. Cooper also was treated at a hospital.

Reward grows to $43K for info about pizza driver's death

ST. LOUIS -- The reward for information in the shooting death of a pizza delivery driver in St. Louis has grown to $43,100.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported police are investigating the death of 31-year-old David Matthews, who was delivering pizza for Imo's Pizza on July Fourth when he was shot. He died several days later at a hospital.

Family and friends of Matthews raised $28,100 for information leading to the arrest of his killer. The anonymous CrimeStoppers tip line previously offered up to $5,000, and the Imo's family donated $10,000.

Police have not arrested any suspects in the case and have not discussed a motive.