Dexter police officers ask for change of venue, judge

BLOOMFIELD - Attorneys representing the two Dexter police officers charged with hindering prosecution are asking for new judges and venues in the cases.

John Oliver of Cape Girardeau and Jim Spain of Poplar Bluff filed motions "for change of venue and for change for judge" in Circuit Court, Division I Wednesday morning on behalf of Police Chief Ken Rinehart and Sgt. Sammy Stone.

Rinehart and Stone were indicted by a Stoddard County grand jury in January on a Class D felony of hindering prosecution.

The indictments stem from an incident involving former Dexter officer Robert Kennedy who was arrested in July on charges of improper sexual activities. He later pleaded guilty to three felonies and was placed on five years' supervised probation.

This filing of motions comes after Rinehart and Stone were arraigned on March 19 before Associate Circuit Judge John Beaton of Dunklin County. Both men entered not guilty pleas at that time.

Beaton was hearing the cases after Rinehart and Stone's attorneys took steps to challenge the grand jury indictment against the officers during their initial appearance in Circuit Court, Division I Feb. 6.

Defense preparations

Two notices were filed indicating the defense's intent to take depositions from and to call as witnesses Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen Sharp and Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn.

A third notice indicated the intent of the defense to utilize the prosecuting attorney as a witness for the defense in the trial, if any is necessary.

As a result of those notices, Sharp recused himself from the case.

The Missouri Supreme Court assigned Beaton to hear the case.

During the March 19 appearances, Beaton ordered that Rinehart and Stone appear at 9 a.m. April 23. A trial date was to be set at that time or any pending motions be taken up.

If the change of judge motion is granted, then the Missouri Supreme Court will be asked to assign a new judge(s) to hear the cases.