Greene Co. jailer fired, charged after database accessed

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) -- A Greene County jailer has been fired and is charged with accessing a law enforcement database to erase a warrant for his arrest.

Prosecutors say Steven Donovan of Springfield was charged Monday with misdemeanor misuse of official information by a public servant. Records show that the Phelps County warrant was for failure to appear for a traffic ticket charging no proof of insurance.

Court documents show that Donovan said he learned about the warrant in May when he applied for a concealed carry permit. He said he called Phelps County prosecutors and they dismissed the warrant, but it remained active in the database.

Donovan decided to clear it himself, but later said he would not have done so had he known it was illegal.

Prosecutor Darrell Moore said it is his understanding that Donovan has been fired.

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Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.springfieldnews-leader.com