Former Carter County deputy facing federal charges waives pretrial motions

A former Carter County deputy will go to trial on federal charges she illegally possessed and sold firearms after waiving her right to a pretrial motions hearing Wednesday.

Steffanie Marie Kearbey, who faces two counts of possession of stolen firearms, one count of sale of a stolen firearm and one count of being an unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of firearms, appeared Wednesday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lewis Blanton in Cape Girardeau for a pretrial motions hearing in her case; however, she waived filing any motions, according to a clerk with the U.S. District Court.

No trial date is set at this time for the 23-year-old Ellsinore, Mo., woman, but her case will be heard by U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr.

Kearbey, along with former sheriff Tommy Adams, was indicted in August by a federal grand jury, which handed down a seven-count indictment.

Adams faces three counts of possession of stolen firearms, one count of sale of a stolen firearm and one count of being an unlawful user of controlled substances in possession of firearms.

No trial date has been set at this time for Adams, who earlier waived filing pretrial motions in his case. Limbaugh also will preside over Adams' case.

If convicted, Adams and Kearbey face a maximum term of 10 years imprisonment and/or a maximum fine of $250,000 on each count, followed by a maximum three-year term of supervised release.

The former officers were arrested in April as part of an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol into suspected illegal activities involving Adams, who resigned as sheriff on the day of his arrest.

In addition to his federal charges, Adams also faces charges in Carter County and recently had his case transferred to Jefferson County on a change of venue. No date has been set for him to appear there before Circuit Judge Gary Kramer.

Adams, 31, of Ellsinore is charged with two felonies of distribution of a controlled substance (methamphetamine and cocaine) and felony of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute (methamphetamine).

He is accused of distributing meth and cocaine to a confidential informant and possessing five bags of a white powder substance, which field tested positive as methamphetamine and were found in his personal truck.

Both Adams and Kearbey are free on bond related to the federal charges, and Adams also is out on bond on the state charges.

Pertinent address:

Ellsinore, MO