GOP leader files harassment complaint against ex-candidate

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The leader of the local Republican party filed a complaint last week accusing Carter County Prosecuting Attorney Rocky Kingree of making threats against him via text message.

Eddy Justice, chairman of the Butler County Republican central committee, filed his complaint with the Butler County Sheriff's Department. In it, he claims Kingree sent him a series of threatening text messages between about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday and 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, according to a report by Sgt. Brandon Lowe.

In the text messages, which Lowe said he reviewed, "Kingree made several threats to 'beat' Justice['s] 'ass.'

"Kingree also states the only way he would not beat Justice['s] 'ass' was if [Justice] came and apologized to him."

Justice indicated the reason Kingree "has been making threats toward him is because [Kingree] feels like Justice had him removed from the Republican ballot for [associate] circuit judge in Butler County."

Kingree said Friday he didn't know anything about Justice making a complaint against him.

"I don't know anything I would have threatened him [about]," Kingree said. "We sent cordial emails back and forth. I haven't sent any texts."

Kingree said he doesn't think he has threatened Justice.

"I was upset about the nomination," he said.

Orders signed Friday by Presiding Circuit Judge Fred Copeland of New Madrid County removed Kingree as the Republican candidate for Division II associate circuit judge on the Nov. 4 general election ballot.

In those orders, Copeland said, Kingree did not meet the residency requirement contained in Section 478.320.7 of the Missouri Revised Statutes because he had not lived in Butler County for at least one year before the election.

Copeland issued his orders after a bench trial last week in Wayne County to consider civil suits brought against Kingree by Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour on behalf of the State of Missouri and attorney Chris Yarbro on behalf of Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth.

Both cases sought to keep Kingree off the ballot.

Kingree, a resident of Ellsinore, Missouri, listed his law office in Van Buren, Missouri, when he filed his declaration of candidacy. He was the lone Republican on the ballot for the Aug. 5 primary election.

Kingree had said he would establish his residence in Butler County before the election as required by the Missouri Constitution. However, a one-year residency law became effective Aug. 28, 2013.

Kingree earlier said he would not appeal his removal if the Republicans nominated someone to take his place on the ballot.

One of the text messages appears to reference an upcoming meeting by Republicans, in which Kingree is alleged to have said: "I'll be there when u appoint. If u don't I'm going to beat your ass."

Justice, Lowe said, did not want Kingree contacted or charges pursued, but wanted a report on file if the alleged harassment continues.

Justice said he never responded a "single time" to Kingree's alleged texts. "I have not communicated for several days with him," he said.

"Everything that I have done regarding this case has been according to the law and the bylaws of the central committee and in good faith," Justice said. "Whatever frustration Mr. Kingree may have with me is unfortunate, but in a civil society there are standards by which we treat each other."

As far as the central committee is concerned, "we will fulfill our obligations under the law and continue to attempt to serve the Republican voters of Butler County to the best of our ability."

Poplar Bluff police chief Danny Whiteley said he has obtained a copy of the texts and forwarded them to state and federal authorities "requesting they look at them to see if it met any criteria for them to become involved."

In addition, Whiteley said, he forwarded the information to a representative of the Missouri Attorney General's Office.

"I advised Mr. Justice to take something like this seriously, and furthermore felt that Mr. Kingree's position as an elected official, in particular in a law enforcement position, is indicative of extreme mental stress when you are threatening citizens who are just doing the job in our election process."

Pertinent address:

Poplar Bluff, Mo.