Region, state news briefs

ROGERSVILLE, Mo. -- A southwest Missouri day care operator is charged with 34 felonies after a 4-month-old child in her care died.

The Springfield News-Leader reported 52-year-old Cheri Beason was indicted for child neglect or endangering in the August 2017 death of Brynlee Jones. The indictment became public Wednesday.

Court documents say Beason was looking after more than 20 children at her unlicensed day care near Rogersville when Brynlee died. Unlicensed day care providers aren't allowed to watch more than four unrelated children.

The documents allege Beason left one adult supervising 20 children who were 5 or younger on the day Brynlee died.

Beason also was charged by the state in January with the infraction of operating a day care without a license.

CEDAR HILL, Mo. -- An eastern Missouri deputy is recovering following surgery after he was attacked by a dog while serving a civil summons.

The attack happened Tuesday in Cedar Hill, injuring a 27-year veteran of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. Authorities say the deputy was walking toward a door when the dog, identified by the owner as a pit bull, ran toward him, locked its jaws around his face and knocked him to the ground.

The deputy was able to free his face but the dog latched onto an arm. The deputy fired three shots, one of which grazed the dog enough to stop the attack.

The deputy's lip was badly damaged and he suffered puncture wounds near an eye. The dog was taken to a veterinarian and is expected to survive.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A former employee of a southwest Missouri school district was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for embezzling more than $145,000 from the district.

Karla Justice, former board secretary and head bookkeeper for the Jasper School District, was sentenced Tuesday for wire fraud and access devices fraud. She worked for the district from 2009 to 2016.

The Joplin Globe reports Justice will be required to pay back the stolen money, and she will be on three years of supervised release after her prison sentence.

According to a plea agreement, Justice authorized more than $80,000 in extra pay to herself.

She also authorized payments to her retirement account, spent district money on expenses not related to education and opened a Home Depot credit card in the district's name for personal purchases.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A 19-year-old Kansas City man is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of a man after a minor traffic accident.

Prosecutors charged Trevyon Shepheard Tuesday in the death of 57-year-old Leonard Joyner III.

The Kansas City Star reported charging documents in the case indicate Shepheard and Joyner had a minor car crash Sunday afternoon.

Witnesses said Joyner appeared to offer Shepheard cash after the accident.

Instead of accepting the cash, police say Shepheard got a gun from his car and fired several shots at Joyner. Witnesses said Joyner was shot several times after he was on the ground.

Prosecutors also charged 18-year-old Rafeasia Kirkland with tampering with evidence. They allege she was in the car and drove Shepheard away from the scene.

-- From wire reports