Cody Samples hired as Cape city prosecutor; Scott Horman leaving position

The City of Cape Girardeau will welcome new city prosecutor Cody Samples as of Monday, July 1. Former prosecutor Scott Horman will be stepping away from his position.

City manager Ken Haskin stated in an email to the Southeast Missourian that they are excited to bring Samples’ “wealth of legal experience” and knowledge to the city.

“We know that he will do a great job in his new role as City Prosecutor, which he will begin on July 1st,” Haskin stated.

Scott Horman

In Haskin’s statement, he also thanked Horman for his “hard work and dedication to his community” in his time with the city.

“We are saddened that he (Horman) has chosen to step aside, as we hate to see him leave, but commend him for balancing both roles thus far. We wish Scott all the best, and look forward to working with Cody,” Haskin stated.

According to prior Southeast Missourian reporting, chief of police Wes Blair pointed out in an April 17 email to city officials that he lost “confidence” in Horman because of an act done in Horman’s private practice. As an act of a privately retained defense attorney, Horman had filed a motion to reduce a bond for Joseph Salmon, a Sikeston man who Cape Girardeau police officers arrested for alleged felony drug violations.

Horman was able to successfully get Salmon’s bond lowered to $20,000 from $30,000 before withdrawing from Salmon’s case April 18.

In the article, Blair is quoted as saying the intention behind his emails to city administration about Horman was to make them aware of how the issue affects police. Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney Mark Welker had also stated in the email that the issue should be immediately addressed by the City Council.

More details regarding the officials’ initial email conversation regarding Horman may be seen in this article: https://www.semissourian.com/story/3038805.html.