Jetton closes political consulting firm in wake of assault charge

Click here to download the complaint against Jetton and the probable cause affidavit in PDF format. WARNING: The documents contain references to sexual activity that may not be appropriate for some audiences.

Former Missouri House speaker Rod Jetton closed his political consulting firm Tuesday, one day after he was charged with assaulting a Sikeston, Mo., woman during sex.

Jetton's lawyer, Stephen C. Wilson of Cape Girardeau, issued a statement announcing Jetton's decision. In the statement, Wilson said Jetton is closing the firm, Rod Jetton Associates Inc., in order to fight the felony charges and spend time with his family. The consulting firm, which employed four people besides Jetton, mainly handled Republican and business clients.

"Jetton feels that right now he can best help his clients, former employees and family by closing the doors of his consulting company," Wilson said in the release. "He expects to finalize his business dealings by the end of 2009."

Jetton turned himself in late Monday to the Cole County Sheriff's Department in Jefferson City, Mo., for booking on the felony assault charge. He was fingerprinted, a mug shot was taken and Jetton posted bond. Jetton will be in court Jan. 6 in Benton, Mo., for initial arraignment.

In a written statement Wilson provided to the Southeast Missourian and other media outlets, Wilson said Jetton denies he's guilty of the alleged assault he's been charged with.

"Mr. Jetton was shocked and surprised when first advised of the allegation made against him," the statement reads. "Now that a complaint is filed in court, Mr. Jetton's only comments are that he is not guilty, and will vigorously defend this allegation in court and not in the media."

Scott County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Boyd filed second-degree assault charges Monday against Jetton, 42. According to a probable-cause affidavit by Sikeston Department of Public Safety Detective Bethany McDermott, Jetton allegedly struck a woman in the face and choked her during sexual intercourse at her home on the night of Nov. 15.

According to the complaint filed with the court, Jetton "recklessly caused serious physical injury" to the victim "by hitting her on the head, and choking her resulting in unconsciousness and the loss of the function of a part of her body."

The charge carries a maximum punishment of seven years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Jetton, a Marble Hill, Mo., Republican, began his political consulting firm under the name Commonsense Conservative Consulting during 2006 while he was Missouri House speaker, a job commonly called the second-most powerful post in state government.

During 2008 and 2009, 17 candidates and political committees required to report to the Missouri Ethics Commission reported payments to Jetton totaling $375,213.86.

The Southeast Missourian attempted to contact the seven clients -- three state senators and four Missouri House members -- listed in ethics commission records as having paid Jetton's firm $5,000 or more in reports filed since Jan. 1, 2008. Of those, one could be reached and the rest did not return messages left at their offices and on home and cell phones.

"I don't have any thoughts about what happened," said state Rep. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph. "It's just bad."

Schaaf, a House member since 2002, paid Jetton's firm $33,954.86, most of it in 2009. Jetton worked mainly as a fundraiser for him, Schaaf said.

The public understands that his past use of Jetton's firm doesn't have anything to do with Jetton's current trouble, Schaaf said. "Just because somebody uses this political consultant or that, if they get in trouble it somehow reflects on the customers, that is just a silly idea," Schaaf said. "I was using Rod Jetton for political fundraising, and as far as I am concerned Rod has always been an honorable guy."

Jetton's decision to work as a political consultant while continuing to hold his leadership post was reviewed in 2006 by the Missouri Ethics Commission, which determined it was legal but had "an appearance of impropriety."

Jetton was a state representative for the 156th District from 2001 to 2009. He was speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives from 2005 to 2009, when he left because of term limits.

Jetton and his wife, Cassandra Elaine Jetton, were divorced in October, according to court documents.

Jetton faced criticism earlier this year for his work against legislation favored by utilities to help build new power plants. His consulting firm set up an opposition group and warned electric customers to be wary of the bill.

That prompted a heated argument on the Senate floor about Jetton's activities. The legislation never cleared the Senate.

During the 2008 campaign, Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder criticized Jetton for working as a political consultant for three Republican state senators and a Republican House member while simultaneously serving as House leader.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent addresses:

Benton, MO

Jefferson City, MO

Sikeston, MO