Former sheriff waives hearing on federal gun charges

Former Carter County sheriff Tommy Adams will go to trial on federal charges he illegally possessed and sold firearms after waiving his right to a pretrial motions hearing Tuesday.

Adams, who 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, appeared Tuesday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lewis Blanton in Cape Girardeau for a pretrial motions hearing in his case; however, he waived filing any motions, according to a clerk with the U.S. District Court.

No trial date is set at this time for the 31-year-old Ellsinore, Mo., man, but his case will be heard by U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr., who "will be entering an order setting [the case] for trial," the clerk said. "That will probably happen relatively quickly."

Adams and former deputy Steffanie Marie Kearbey were indicted in August by a federal grand jury, which handed down a seven-count indictment.

If convicted, Adams and Kearbey, 23, of Ellsinore, face a maximum term of 10 years in prison 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, where he is to appear at 9 a.m. Oct. 7 before Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett for arraignment. The Missouri Supreme Court recently assigned Adams' case to Pritchett after Presiding Circuit Judge David Evans recused himself.

Adams is charged with two felonies of distribution of a controlled substance (methamphetamine and cocaine) and the 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, that 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