Former restaurant owner charged with failing to turn over sales tax

A Daisy woman who formerly co-owned Fruitland Diner faces an April court date for collecting more than $12,000 from sales tax of items sold at the restaurant but failing to forward that money to the Missouri Department of Revenue.

If convicted, Krissty Steers, 28, could face between one day and one year in Cape Girardeau County Jail and a fine not exceeding $1,000 for charges relating to when she operated the restaurant at 5841 U.S. 61.

According to a probable-cause statement filed Friday, Steers failed to forward to the state $12,676.23 in taxes from items sold at the restaurant for six months, from October 2008 to March 2009. The document also said Steers failed to forward money from withholding taxes for December 2008 and March 2009.

Steers had previously appeared in court Dec. 14, 2009, and faced charges of writing a bad check of $1,100 on Oct. 31, 2008, to Coldwell Bank Select Realtors. The charges were dismissed in court.

Steers and her husband, Robert, 46, once owned or were a partner in three restaurants in Cape Girardeau County. They opened Jackson Diner at 3125 E. Jackson Blvd. in November 2007, closing the restaurant in October 2008. They also operated Fruitland Diner from April 2008 to April 2009. The couple, along with a group of investors, did business as Bobby's Kitchen at 1015 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau from Feb. 1 to April 2009.

Jackson Diner is now operating as a Huddle House and Bobby's Kitchen has since changed its name to Granny's Kitchen. Fruitland Diner still operates under that name.

Krissty Steers is scheduled to appear April 5 before Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp. Steers' husband will appear April 26 before Circuit Judge Ben Lewis. Robert Steers faces charges of writing a bad check of $1,100.90 to Bollinger Farms and failure to pay sales taxes collected at Jackson Diner from July to September 2008.

He faces between one day and one year in county jail, one to seven years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 for the count of bad check writing. For failure to pay state sales taxes, Robert Steers could face a fine of up to $10,000 and up to five years in prison.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

243-6635

Pertinent addresses:

3125 E. Jackson Blvd., Jackson, MO

5841 U.S. 61, Fruitland, MO

1015 N. Kingshighway, Cape Girardeau, MO