Imprisoned ex-Carter County deputy to stand trial for felonies

VAN BUREN, Mo. -- A former Carter County deputy already serving time in a federal prison on weapons-related offenses was ordered to stand trial Wednesday on multiple felonies, including burglaries involving two Ellsinore, Mo., homes.

Accompanied by her attorney, Dan Moore, Steffanie Kearbey appeared before Associate Circuit Judge Don Henry for a preliminary hearing.

After hearing testimony from five witnesses, Henry found probable cause to bind the 25-year-old Ellsinore woman over to stand trial on the Class C felonies of receiving stolen property, second-degree burglary and stealing and the Class B felony of first-degree burglary.

Henry ordered Kearbey to appear at 9 a.m. April 8 before Presiding Circuit Judge David Evans for arraignment on the charges.

Kearbey, as well as her former boss, Tommy Adams, who had resigned from office on the day of his arrest, were indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2011, and she subsequently pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a stolen firearm and one count of sale of a stolen firearm.

Kearbey is serving a five-year sentence in the Federal Correctional Institution at Coleman, Fla.

At this time, Adams, 33, of Ellsinore is serving a 10-year federal sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of possession of a stolen firearm, one count of sale of a stolen firearm and one count of being a drug user in possession of firearms.

The former sheriff also is charged with two Class B felonies of distribution of a controlled substance -- methamphetamine and cocaine -- and the Class B 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.

Adams is to appear at 9 a.m. May 6 in Jefferson County for a plea hearing, according to entries in Casenet, Missouri's online court reporting system.

Pertinent address:

Van Buren, MO