Ex-sheriff in meth case free on bond

GREENVILLE, Mo. -- Former Carter County sheriff Tommy Adams is free on bond after pleading not guilty to distributing methamphetamine during a hearing in which his bond also was reduced.

Although the 31-year-old Ellsinore, Mo., man is charged in Carter County, Monday's hearing was held at the Wayne County Courthouse in Greenville, the home courtroom of Associate Circuit Judge Randy Schuller, who was appointed by the Missouri Supreme Court to hear the case. Adams' attorney, David Mann, and the state, which was represented by assistant attorney general James Hansen, agreed to the change in location.

During the hearing, according to the court's docket, Adams waived formal arraignment on the felony of distribution of methamphetamine and entered a not guilty plea.

Arrested as part of a Missouri State Highway Patrol investigation, Adams is accused of distributing methamphetamine to a confidential informant.

Schuller also took up a motion for bond reduction, which Mann filed May 10.

Adams had been held in the Cape Girardeau County Jail in Jackson on a $250,000 cash bond since his arrest by the highway patrol April 2, the same day he resigned as sheriff.

The Missouri Rules of Criminal Procedure provide for "any person charged with a bailable offense" to be "entitled to be released pending trial," Mann said in his motion. Further, he said, the court "shall set such conditions for release as will reasonably assure the appearance of the accused."

Mann said the nature and circumstances of the offense charged, the weight of evidence against Adams, Adams' family ties, financial resources, character and lack of any convictions, as well as his record of appearance at court proceedings, should be taken into account, which suggest "a lower bond would be appropriate in this case."

The bond presently set, Mann said, is excessive and far higher than is necessary to assure Adams' appearance at further court proceedings.

The state opposed the motion.

"The AG's office argued for it to remain where it was at $250,000 cash only, and Mr. Mann argued for $100,000 cash or surety," explained a Wayne County court official. "Judge Schuller made it $200,000 cash or surety.

"That stands for the current charges and any new charges that are to be filed, if any."

Adding the surety option, the court official said, allows for the bond to go through a bail bondsman.

If a bond is $250,000 cash, "you have to put up the cash," he said. "Otherwise, with the surety, it goes through a bondsman, and you post 10 percent, which is usually the fee for the bond."

An online victim information and notification system indicates Adams is out of custody, having bonded out Monday.

Adams is to appear at 1:30 p.m. July 12 in Wayne County before Schuller for a preliminary hearing in his case.

Also charged in the Highway Patrol's investigation are former deputy, Steffanie Marie Kearbey, 23, and Gary W. Bender, 45, both of Ellsinore.

Kearbey is charged with the Class C felonies of receiving stolen property and second-degree burglary, while Bender is charged with four Class C felonies of second-degree arson and two Class B felonies of distribution of a controlled substance.

Kearbey is accused of possessing a gun allegedly taken from the department's evidence room by Adams and burglarizing an Ellsinore home, allegedly at the request of Adams.

Bender is accused of burning multiple Ellsinore homes in 2010 and 2011, including the modular home of the former sheriff and of distributing methamphetamine to a confidential informant and an undercover officer.

Carter County Prosecuting Attorney Rocky Kingree filed motions for change of judge in Kearbey and Bender's cases in April.

Schuller, who also was assigned by the Missouri Supreme Court to both cases, granted Kingree's motion on Friday.

The cases are being forwarded to the Supreme Court for the appointment of a new judge.

Pertinent address:

Greenville, MO

Ellsinore, MO