Monia case continued in Scott County

BENTON, Mo. -- A Scott County judge continued one of the cases against a Cape Girardeau fraud suspect Tuesday to give his lawyer time to ask the Missouri Supreme Court to move his case to another circuit.

Keith Monia, 52, faces 15 felony charges in three cases spanning two counties, all but two stemming from allegations he took money from several clients -- most of them elderly -- who thought he was going to invest it in annuities for them.

In the Scott County case that went before Judge Scott Horman on Tuesday, Monia is charged with two counts each of forgery and financial exploitation of the elderly.

Attorney David Mann, representing Monia in that case, told Horman he wanted a change of venue, citing pretrial publicity.

"We had requested a change outside this area because of the notoriety and association alleged in this thing," Mann said.

According to a probable-cause affidavit filed in the case, Monia directed a client to write a check to George Joseph, saying Joseph was a financial planner from New York who would help him invest the money.

Joseph, 48, faces charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the May 30 shooting deaths of his wife and 18-year-old son at their home on West Cape Rock Drive. The case has received heavy media coverage.

Horman told Mann he would continue the case to Sept. 4 to allow time for a document to be sent to the Missouri Supreme Court, requesting the trial be moved outside the circuit.

One of Monia's former clients filed a lawsuit against him in Cape Girardeau County, alleging he took $80,000. Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis recently approved a change of venue to Wayne County for the civil case.

Scott County Sheriff's Department records show Monia has been in jail since Aug. 2.

The time in jail appeared to be wearing on him Tuesday.

When he appeared in court last month, the clean-shaven Monia wore a suit and tie and at first glance could have passed for a lawyer.

On Tuesday, as a bailiff led him into the courtroom, Monia wore an orange jail jumpsuit, a beard and a tired expression.

epriddy@semissourian.com

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Benton, MO