Monday, October 25, 2021

Springfield man sentenced to 15 years on child pornography charge


(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Springfield, Missouri, man who downloaded thousands of images and videos of child pornography was sentenced in federal court today.

Nicholas Goins, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 15 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Goins to spend the rest of his life on supervised release following incarceration and ordered Goins to pay $24,000 in restitution to his victims. Goins will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.








On March 3, 2020, Goins pleaded guilty to one count of receiving and distributing child pornography. He has been in federal custody since December 2019.

According to court documents, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Goins’s residence on March 7, 2019. Officers seized multiple digital storage devices, which contained thousands of images and videos of child pornography. A forensic examination discovered messaging sessions with other individuals in which they shared child pornography. Goins actively encouraged such exchanges. One of the participants posted imagery of himself sexually abusing a 4-year-old child victim, for which he was charged in another district.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney James J. Kelleher. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force and the FBI.

Thursday, October 21, 2021

Springfield woman dies from injuries suffered in October 8 accident


(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Oct. 19, 2021, 40-year-old Catherine Williams from Springfield, MO, died as a result of injuries sustained in a crash early this month.

On Oct. 8, 2021, at 6:13 a.m., Springfield police were dispatched to the intersection of Fort and Sunshine regarding a two-vehicle crash.






 

The initial investigation indicates a 2019 Nissan Murano was northbound on Fort approaching the intersection with Sunshine. A 2009 Ford Focus, driven by Ms. Williams, was southbound on Fort and began a turn east on Sunshine. A collision occurred between the two vehicles that resulted in both drivers being transported to the hospital with serious injuries.

We have been in contact with Ms. Williams’ family and they have been notified of her passing.

Officers with the department’s Traffic Section are continuing to investigate the circumstances involved in the crash and are asking anyone who has information about this incident to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810.

This motor vehicle crash marks the 24th traffic fatality in Springfield in 2021.

Springfield Police investigating Applebee's parking lot assault as homicide


(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Sept. 1, 2021, at approximately 9:45 p.m., the Springfield Police Department was dispatched to the Applebee’s parking lot at 2430 N. Glenstone Ave. due to a 911 caller stating a subject had been assaulted.

 
When officers arrived, they located a male who had suffered injuries from an assault. The male was transported to a local hospital for treatment.






 

The victim, identified as 64-year-old Ronald Himmelberg from Springfield, MO, succumbed to his injuries on Set.12, 2021. Notifications were made to Mr. Himmelberg’s family and due to the circumstances surrounding his death, details of the case were kept confidential until the suspect could be located by SPD’s Violent Crimes Unit.

The case is currently being reviewed by the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office.

Detectives continue to investigate and are asking anyone who has information about this incident to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477).

This incident marks the 20th homicide for 2021.

Monday, October 18, 2021

Springfield man killed by police during hostage-taking incident


(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Oct.17, 2021, at 1:10 p.m., a Springfield Police Officer was at the Kum N Go at 215 S. Kansas Expressway when the officer observed a wanted suspect walking on the sidewalk in front of the business. 

When the officer approached the suspect and attempted to contact him, the male refused to comply with commands and ran from the officer. 

During the foot pursuit, the suspect displayed a handgun and fired shots at the officer. The officer returned fire at the suspect, but it is not believed that the suspect was struck. A bullet penetrated the material of officer’s uniform, however the officer was not struck by a projectile and did not require any medical attention. The suspect continued to flee by running west from the location and officers lost sight of him.






 

At approximately 1:14 p.m., the Springfield Police Department received a 911 call from a female stating a male, armed with a gun, entered her residence at 1800 W. Elm. 

While officers were arriving on scene, the female caller was able to exit the residence with her child. A male resident was still inside the house being held hostage by the armed suspect. Officers set up a perimeter around the residence and started negotiations with the suspect while members of the SPD Special Response Team forced entry into the residence. 

Officers observed the male suspect and hostage engaged in a struggle over the firearm. An officer then fired shots at the suspect striking him several times causing him to drop his weapon and freeing the hostage. The suspect was transported to a local hospital for gunshot wounds where he later succumbed to his injuries. The hostage and officers were not injured during this incident.

The deceased male was identified as Douglas J. Knakmuhs, a 40-year-old male from Springfield, Missouri. Next of kin notifications have been made to Knakmuhs’ family.

Both officers involved in the shootings have been placed on administrative leave pending an internal and concurrent criminal investigation. This case will be presented to the Greene County Prosecutor for review.

Detectives are asking anyone who has information about this incident to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477).

This incident marks the nineteenth homicide for 2021.

Springfield, Willard residents killed in head-on collision

Two people were killed and another person injured in a two-vehicle collision 5:05 p.m. Sunday on Farm Road 105, a half-mile north of Willard.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 2013 Chevrolet Traverse driven by Robert Hicks, 28, Willard, crossed the center of the roadway and struck a 2007 Mini Cooper driven by 17-year-old Springfield girl head on.







The 17-year-old girl was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:12 p.m. by Greene County Medical Examiner Kayla Bates.

Dr. Marvin Hanner at Mercy Hospital, Springfield, pronounced Hicks dead at 6:13 p.m.

A passenger in the Hicks vehicle, Davey Hicks, 27, Springfield, was treated for moderate injuries at Mercy.

The fatalities were the 105th and 106th this year for Highway Patrol Troop D.

Thursday, October 14, 2021

Springfield man sentenced to 14 years for child pornography


(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Springfield, Missouri, man was sentenced in federal court today for receiving child pornography over the internet.

Scott James Wells, 56, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to 14 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Wells to a lifetime of supervised release following incarceration, and ordered him to pay $15,000 in restitution to his victims.








On May 4, 2021, Wells withdrew his plea of not guilty on the day his criminal jury trial was scheduled to begin. Wells entered a nolo contendre, or “no contest,” plea, neither admitting nor disputing the federal charges against him, but acknowledging the government had sufficient evidence to convict him of the crimes charged beyond a reasonable doubt. The court found Wells guilty of one count of receiving and distributing child pornography. Wells has been detained in federal custody since that date.

Wells received child pornography over the internet between Dec. 15, 2016, through March 22, 2017. Law enforcement received two CyberTipline reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children after Wells used his Facebook account to transmit two images of child pornography to another Facebook user.

Officers executed a search warrant at Wells’s residence and seized his laptop computer, which contained child pornography.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys James J. Kelleher and Nhan Nguyen. It was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent J.D. Holdman and the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force.

 

Wednesday, October 13, 2021

U. S. Marshals arrest Springfield man wanted for multiple counts of statutory sodomy, child molestation


(From the U. S. Marshals Service)

U.S. Marshals-Midwest Violent Fugitive Task Force and the Greene County Sheriff’s Department located and coordinated the apprehension of a Springfield man on Wednesday who fled to Mexico to avoid being sentenced in Greene County Circuit Court on numerous sex offense charges. 

On September 17, , 2021, the 31st Judicial Circuit Court of Greene County issued an arrest warrant for David M. King for five counts of Statutory Sodomy in the 1st Degree, Statutory Sodomy in the 2nd Degree, Child Molestation in the 1st Degree, and Child Molestation in the 4th Degree after he failed to appear for his scheduled sentencing hearing. 








The Greene County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Apprehension Unit immediately began the investigation to locate and apprehend King. The U.S. Marshals Service fugitive task force joined the hunt for King shortly thereafter and worked closely with the Fugitive Apprehension Unit throughout the investigation. 

Through a series of investigative endeavors, Fugitive Apprehension Unit detectives and Deputy U.S. Marshals soon tracked King to Reynosa, Mexico. 

On Wednesday morning, Deputy U.S. Marshals in the Southern District of Texas-McAllen, apprehended King in Reynosa, Mexico. King is currently awaiting return to Springfield to face sentencing for his sex offense charges. 

“The U.S. Marshals service remains dedicated to assisting our local law enforcement partners to stop the spread of violence in our communities. This is a priority for the Department of Justice and the U.S. Marshals Service,” said Mark James, U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Missouri. 

“Through teamwork and cooperation with the Greene County Fugitive Apprehension Unit we successfully brought a dangerous fugitive to justice.” 

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Buffalo man killed in crash at Sunshine and Marion


(From the Springfield Police Department)

Springfield police were dispatched to the intersection of Sunshine and Marion at 10:57 P.M., on October 9, 2021, regarding a single-vehicle crash.

The initial investigation indicated a red 2011 Kia Optima was eastbound on Sunshine approaching the intersection of Sunshine and Marion. The vehicle left the roadway on the south side of the intersection and struck a traffic signal pole. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was transported to the hospital where he later died.






 

The deceased driver of the van was identified as Toby Holland, a 21-year-old male from Buffalo, Missouri. Family members of the deceased have been notified.

Officers with the department’s Traffic Section are continuing to investigate the circumstances involved in the crash and are asking anyone who has information about this incident to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810.

This motor vehicle crash marks the twenty-third traffic fatality in Springfield in 2021.

Springfield man pleads guilty to child pornography charge


(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

A Springfield, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court today to receiving and distributing hundreds of images and videos of child pornography.

Chandler Durham, 31, pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to one count of receiving and distributing child pornography.








On Feb. 5, 2020, a detective with the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force reviewed several CyberTips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Instagram, Twitter, and Google had reported that Durham uploaded child pornography to his accounts. During the investigation, the detective received approximately 50 CyberTips that reported uploads of child pornography by Durham. The detective identified 1,500 images and 233 videos of child pornography uploaded to Durham’s Google account, including videos of child bestiality and child bondage.

Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Durham’s residence on July 6, 2020, and seized seven electronic items. Investigators located both images and videos of child pornography on Durham’s electronic devices and accounts.

Under federal statutes, Durham is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of 20 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie L. Wan. It was investigated by the Springfield, Mo., Police Department, the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Billings man killed in collision with tractor-trailer on 60

A Billings man was killed in a two-vehicle collision 7:59 p.m. Sunday on U. S. 60, two miles west of Aurora.

According to the Highway Patrol report, a 1999 Freightliner tractor-trailer driven by Evan B. Kessinger, 21, Cassville, pulled into the apth of a 2004 Ford F150 driven by Marios T. Ziogas, 65, Billings.

The Ziogas vehicle struck the towed unit of the Freightliner. Kessinger fled the scene and was located after an investigation.







Ziogas was airlifted to Cox South Hospital where he was pronounced dead by Dr. Dominguez at 2:33 a.m.

The fatality was the 103rd this year for Highway Patrol Troop D.

Friday, October 8, 2021

Springfield man, KC teen arrested following shooting death of teenager


(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Oct. 7, 2021, at 4:41 p.m., the Springfield Police Department was dispatched to 422 E. Norton Rd. for a person sustaining a gunshot wound. When officers arrived, they found two males on scene who were suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. One male was transported to a local hospital for treatment for injuries that were not considered life threatening. The other male was provided medical treatment on scene, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.

The deceased person was identified as I’Shon Dunham, a 17-year-old male from Springfield, Missouri. Next of kin notifications have been made.








The preliminary investigation by Springfield Police Detectives has resulted in two arrests. One of the suspects has been identified as Antonio J. Meanus, a 30-year-old male from Springfield, Missouri. The other suspect was identified as a 16-year-old juvenile male from Kansas City, Missouri. They were both interviewed by detectives, and Antonio Meanus was booked into the Greene County Jail for 2nd Degree Murder. The juvenile suspect was also arrested for 2nd Degree Murder and booked into the Greene County Juvenile Detention Center.

This case was presented to the Greene County Prosecutor’s Office for review. On Oct. 8, 2021, Antonio Meanus was charged with 2nd Degree Murder and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. The Greene County Prosecutor’s Office cautions that the charges contained in the felony complaint are merely allegations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court. This case was also submitted to the Greene County Juvenile Office for review and filing of possible charges.

Detectives continue to investigate and are asking anyone who has information about this incident to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810 or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 417-869-TIPS (8477).

This incident marks the eighteenth homicide for 2021.

Monday, October 4, 2021

Springfield man killed in crash at Kansas Expressway and Phelps


(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Oct. 2, 2021, at 5:32 a.m., Springfield police were dispatched to the intersection of Kansas Expressway and Phelps regarding a single-vehicle crash.

The initial investigation indicates a maroon 2015 Dodge van was southbound on Kansas Expressway near Phelps and crossed over into the northbound lane. The vehicle then struck a railroad overpass concrete barrier and rolled onto its top. The driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, died at the scene.






 

The driver was identified as Michael Akins, a 39-year-old male from Springfield. Family members of Mr. Akins have been notified.

Officers with the department’s Traffic Section are continuing to investigate the circumstances involved in the crash and are asking anyone who has information about this incident to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810.

This motor vehicle crash marks the twentieth traffic fatality in Springfield in 2021.

Ozark man, Nixa woman killed in collision at National and Montclair


(From the Springfield Police Department)

On Oct. 2, 2021, at 4:41 p.m., Springfield police were dispatched to the intersection of National and Montclair regarding a motor vehicle crash involving two passenger cars.

The initial investigation indicates a maroon 2013 Volkswagen Passat was stopped at a red light facing northbound on National at Montclair. The Passat was struck in the rear by a northbound black 2009 Kia Spectra. The drivers, and sole occupants of both vehicles, were transported to the hospital where they later died.






 

The driver of the Passat was identified as Gerald Douglas, a 79-year-old male from Ozark. The driver of the Spectra was identified as Sarah Kittrell, a 35-year-old female from Nixa. Family members of both victims have been notified.

Officers with the department’s Traffic Section are continuing to investigate the circumstances involved in the crash and are asking anyone who has information about this incident to contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810.

This motor vehicle crash marks the twenty-first and twenty-second traffic fatalities in Springfield in 2021.