Former Poplar Bluff mayor, business official arrested twice in same day

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A former Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce executive and Poplar Bluff mayor will be heading to court after being arrested twice for allegedly driving with a suspended driver's license early Sunday morning, the Daily American Republic newspaper reported.

At about 12:40 a.m. Sunday, Butler County deputy Frankie Casteel was traveling west on Business 60, near Route NN, when he conducted a traffic stop on a green Chrysler Sebring for no license plate light.

According to Casteel's report, he contacted the driver, identified as Scott Ryan Faughn, a resident of the 70 block of County Road 454 and publisher of the SEMO Times and 573 magazine. The 30-year-old, he said, reported he was heading home at that time.

During the stop, Casteel said, he asked for Faughn's driver's license and proof of insurance.

"After obtaining Mr. Faughn's driver's license, I had Butler County dispatch run a check for warrants and a valid license," Casteel said. "Dispatch then advised me that Mr. Faughn had an active warrant through St. Francois County for a traffic violation."

The dispatcher, Casteel said, also reported Faughn's driving privileges were suspended through the Missouri Department of Revenue.

At that point, Casteel said, he arrested Faughn on the St. Francois County failure to appear warrant for a speed violation. The charge stems from a December 2005 ticket issued by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and resulted in a second failure to appear warrant, with a bond of $275, being issued in May.

Casteel said Faughn was taken to the Butler County Justice Center, where he was booked and issued a citation for driving while suspended with a court date at 9 a.m. Oct. 21. Faughn's car reportedly had been released to John Gholson, who owns Scooter's II.

"It should be noted, I advised Mr. Faughn if he was able to post bond on the warrant through St. Francois County, then he would be able to go home for the night," Casteel explained. "I then advised Mr. Faughn that if he was able to post bond, (he was to) make sure and not drive due to his suspended license."

Faughn reportedly was released from jail at 2:19 a.m.

At about 2:50 a.m., Casteel, who was driving home in his personal vehicle, saw a green Chrysler Sebring traveling east on Business 60, near North G Street.

"It should be noted I observed the driver of the vehicle to be Scott Faughn," Casteel said. "It also should be noted that I had previously issued Mr. Faughn a citation for driving while suspended."

Casteel said he pulled his vehicle behind Faughn's car in the 300 block of North G Street.

"As I exited my vehicle, I observed both Mr. Faughn and his passenger, identified as Ricky Timbush not wearing their seat belts," Casteel said. "Mr. Faughn exited his vehicle and stated 'I'm sorry, man.'

"I advised Mr. Faughn that he was not supposed to be driving, and he stated he was looking for the 400 block of North G Street."

Casteel said he contacted on-duty deputies, who responded to his location and arrested Faughn on suspicion of two counts of driving while suspended and no insurance.

Faughn, whose car was towed from the scene, was taken to Butler County jail, where he was booked and issued a second citation for driving while suspended and a citation for no proof of insurance, with a court date at 9 a.m. Oct. 21. He was released at 9:10 a.m.

Timbush, who listed his occupation as manager of The Pony, formerly known as the Call of the Wild, also was issued a citation for no seat belt, with a court date at 9 a.m. Oct. 21.

At the time of Faughn's arrest, he was on one-year supervised probation after having pleaded guilty Dec. 14 to the Class A misdemeanor of following too closely in Butler County. The court suspended the imposition of Faughn's sentence on the charge when it placed him on probation, as well as fined him $10 on a seat belt violation.

In March 2007, Faughn was convicted by a Cape Girardeau County jury of three Class C felonies of forgery. The court followed the jury's recommendation in fining him $500 on each count for a total fine of $1,500. Faughn was accused of forging checks on an account for the U.S. 67 expansion project.