Press Releases
Defendant sentenced to twenty-four (24) years in Prison for BWI-Homicide
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On March 11, 2020, Cletus A. Barsch, III was sentenced in Miller County Circuit Court to a total of twenty-four (24) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the crimes of Boating While Intoxicated-Homicide and BWI- Serious Physical Injury. Specifically, Barsch was sentenced to ten (10) years in prison for Boating While Intoxicated-Homicide and seven (7) years in prison each on two counts of BWI-Serious Physical Injury. The sentences were executed concurrently with each other.
In his guilty plea, Barsch admitted he “operated a vessel while under the influence of alcohol and in the course thereof, [he] acted with criminal negligence thereby causing the death” of an occupant in another boat. He also pled guilty to causing “serious physical injury” to two more occupants in the boat.
The Miller County Prosecutor’s Office sends its sincere condolences to the victim’s family in this case. Further, we are grateful for the assistance of the Missouri State Highway Patrol in resolving this case.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Charges of criminal conduct are not evidence of guilt.
Defendant sentenced to twenty-five (25) years in prison for Second-Degree Murder
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On January 15, 2020, Defendant Joseph P. McKenna pled guilty to the crime of Second-Degree Murder in Miller County Circuit Court and was sentenced to twenty-five (25) years in prison. McKenna admitted to knowingly causing the death of Tyler Worthington on or about June 4, 2018 “by shooting him with a gun.” Second-Degree Murder is a class A felony under Missouri law with a range of punishment of between ten (10) and thirty (30) years or life in prison. Missouri law requires McKenna to serve eighty-five percent (85%) of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
Miller County Prosecutor Benjamin Winfrey extends his deepest sympathies to Mr. Worthington’s family and friends. The Miller County Prosecutor’s Office is very grateful to the Miller County Sherriff’s Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and all the law enforcement agencies of the United State Federal Government for their hard work in solving this crime.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law and charges of criminal conduct are not evidence of a crime.
Defendant sentenced to Fourteen (14) years in prison for Child Molestation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On October 29, 2019, Trentyn L. Greschner was sentenced in Miller County Circuit Court to fourteen (14) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the crimes of Third-Degree Child Molestation and Sexual Misconduct Involving a Child. Specifically, Greschner pled guilty to the class C felony of Third-Degree Child Molestation, in which he admitted that in September 2017, he had “sexual contact” with a child under the age of fourteen years old when he was twenty-six years old by touching the child with his genitals. He also admitted to the class E felony of Sexual Misconduct Involving a Child by exposing his genitals to the same child “for the purpose of arousing or gratifying” his sexual desire.
Greschner was sentenced to ten (10) years in prison for Third-Degree Child Molestation and four (4) years in prison for Sexual Misconduct Involving a Child. The sentences were ordered served concurrently over the State’s objections and requests.
The Miller County Prosecutor’s Office is grateful for the assistance of the Miller County Sheriff’s Department in resolving this case.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Charges of criminal conduct are not evidence of guilt.
Teacher sentenced to twenty (20) years in prison for Sodomizing Student
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On February 14, 2020, Defendant Mark A. Edwards was sentenced by the Miller County Circuit Court to twenty (20) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for the crime of First-Degree Statutory Sodomy. Edwards pled guilty on November 19, 2019 and admitted that he had “deviate sexual intercourse” with a child who was under the age of fourteen years old by “placing his finger in the vagina” of the child. First-Degree Statutory Sodomy is an Unclassified felony that requires incarceration for a minimum of five years in prison but has no maximum sentence.
Edwards was also charged with the class E felony of Sexual Contact with a Student because he was a teacher and the victim was his student. However, that charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement. Two charges remain pending against Edwards regarding abuse of different student.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and criminal charges are not evidence of a crime.
Defendant sentenced to sixteen (16) years in prison for Child Molestation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2019, Dillon J. Robertson was sentenced in Miller County Circuit Court to sixteen (16) years of incarceration for the crimes of First-Degree Child Molestation and Second-Degree Child Molestation. Specifically, Robertson pled guilty to the class B felony of First-Degree Child Molestation, in which he admitted that in December 2015, he had “sexual contact” with a child under the age of fourteen years old. He also admitted to the class A misdemeanor of Second-Degree Child Molestation by having “sexual contact” in December 2015 with a child under the age of seventeen years old. He admitted to touching both the children’s genitals with his hands.
Robertson was sentenced to fifteen (15) years in prison for First-Degree Child Molestation and one (1) year in county jail for Second-Degree Child Molestation. A class B felony is punishable by up to fifteen (15) years in prison and a class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to one (1) year in the county jail.
The Miller County Prosecutor’s Office is grateful for the assistance of the Eldon Police Department in resolving this case.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Charges of criminal conduct are not evidence of guilt.