SAME-NAME CONFUSION CAUSES PROBLEMS

DEXTER, Mo. -- Life became a lot more aggravating in the last week for one Dexter family, thanks to a problem that regularly surfaces in Stoddard County.

Members of the Robert Helton family now have first-hand knowledge of confusion that can be caused when a person with the same name turns up in the county's court records that are published in The Daily Statesman.

For this family, the problem is compounded: There are three Robert Heltons in the family -- Robert Sr., Robert Jr. and Robert III.

The concern is that one of the Robert Heltons who live on King Street might be confused with the Robert Helton named in a recent listing of court records. That Robert Helton -- a resident of St. Cabot, Ark. -- is charged with sexual abuse.

The confusion results from the way the circuit court identifies people coming before the court: By name only with no age, address or hometown. Instances of mistaken identity are made regularly to The Daily Statesman, which runs clarifications.

While there have been several such instances in the past year, the situation involving the Helton family of Dexter appears to be the first that involves more than one person in a family with the same name as a defendant.

The family did receive an apology from the office of Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn for any inconvenience it might have received as a result of the same-name confusion.