Former Carter County sheriff indicted on federal weapons charges

Former Carter County sheriff Tommy Adams will face federal charges in addition to state charges for alleged drug activity while he was sheriff.

Adams, 31, and former deputy Steffanie M. Kearbey, 23, were both indicted Thursday on federal weapons charges by a grand jury in Cape Girardeau, according to a news release from the federal prosecutor's office. Both Adams and Kearbey were indicted on 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.

If convicted, each faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and/or a maximum fine of $250,000 on each count, in addition to a supervised release of up to three years.

Last week a Wayne County judge ordered Adams to stand trial on two felony counts of distribution of a controlled substance (methamphetamine and cocaine) and one felony count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute (methamphetamine).

Adams was arrested in April following a Missouri State Highway Patrol investigation into his alleged drug dealing. He was still sheriff of Carter County at the time but resigned soon after the arrest.

Kearbey was initially charged in Carter County for receiving stolen property related to the Adams investigation, but charges were dropped last month after the prosecutor there said the highway patrol didn't provide enough evidence to go through with Kearbey's prosecution.

Both Adams and Kearbey plan to surrender at the U.S. Marshal's office in Cape Girardeau next week, according to the news release. Adams has been free on bond since early June.