The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Local News

January 28, 2013

Ex-Carl Junction officer draws probation for child-porn conviction

JOPLIN, Mo. — A Jasper County judge Monday granted a former Carl Junction police officer a suspended sentence and probation on a conviction for possession of child pornography.

Seth P. Wilkins, 29, pleaded guilty to the charge in November in a plea deal with the Jasper County prosecutor’s office that limited the prison time he might be assessed to five years. Circuit Judge David Dally assessed Wilkins seven years at a sentencing hearing Monday, but suspended execution of the sentence and placed him on supervised probation for five years.

Wilkins was charged in 2010 after an internal investigation by the Carl Junction Police Department of alleged improper online chats with a minor turned up evidence of child pornography on the officer’s personal computer.

According to a probable-cause affidavit, Carl Junction police Chief Delmar Haase asked the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crimes Task Force to look into the matter when several suspected video files of child pornography were found on Wilkins’ computer.

The defendant admitted downloading about 100 such videos from the Internet since 2004 using file-sharing software, according to court records.

Text Only
Local News
  • Donations being accepted for Moore tornado survivors

    Joplin residents and area nonprofit and relief organizations, remembering the devastation sustained two years ago in the Joplin tornado, are rallying today to send help to residents of Moore, Okla.

    May 21, 2013

  • Moore Oklahoma 2013.jpg Globe reporter describes scene in Moore, Okla.

    Joplin Globe Reporter Andra Stefanoni said the tornado-damaged town of Moore, Okla., is eerily reminiscent of Joplin on May 22, 2011.

    May 21, 2013 1 Photo

  • Hearing slated for Joplin East Middle School teacher set for Thursday

    An East Middle School teacher who was removed from his classroom last month following an investigation by district officials will go before the Board of Education this week.

    May 21, 2013

  • Catholic Charities puts out call for donations to fill two trucks for Oklahoma tornado survivors

    Catholic Charities of Southern Missouri is requesting donations to fill two box trucks with needed supplies for the tornado-devastated region of Moore, Okla.

    May 21, 2013

  • Crowder College president to head to MSSU

    Alan Marble, who announced Monday that he would retire as president of Crowder College in June, has been hired as special assistant to the president at Missouri Southern State University, MSSU officials announced Tuesday.

    May 21, 2013

  • Via Christi Health to cut up to 400 positions across state; Pittsburg impact uncertain

    Via Christi Health announced Today that it would cut up to 400 positions within its system across the state of Kansas to compensate for financial challenges as a result of declining hospital and physician visits.

    May 21, 2013

  • 052013-Vandalism.jpg Vandals cause $37,000 in damage at Joplin business

    A Joplin business owner was the victim of a weekend vandalism spree that resulted in an estimated $37,000 in damages and theft, in addition to putting the company out of service for at least two days.

    May 21, 2013 1 Photo

  • 052013 Tornado Damage.jpg Storms cause damage throughout the Four States

    Four-State Area residents hunkered down twice Monday to ride out tornadoes and powerful spring storms, then went to work cleaning up. The worst damage from Monday night’s storm was being reported in Ottawa County, Okla., near Wyandotte. That followed a report of an EF-1 tornado early Monday morning near Carthage.

    May 20, 2013 2 Photos

  • Two plead guilty to post-tornado wire theft

    Two defendants pleaded guilty Monday to stealing copper wire from utility poles in the wake of the May 22, 2011, tornado that struck Joplin. Timothy M. Silveria, 45, of Joplin, and Nycoa K. Kracht, 32, of Laurel, Ind., entered open pleas of guilty in Jasper County Circuit Court to felony counts of theft from a public utility.

    May 20, 2013

  • Alan Marble, Crowder College president, to retire

    After 27 years with Crowder College, President Alan Marble has announced his plans to retire on June 30, the formal end of the academic year. “It’s just the right time,” Marble, 58, said in a telephone interview Monday morning. “I’ve enjoyed, I think, every minute of these 27 years, but it’s time to move on to the next challenge.”

    May 20, 2013

Must Read Stories
Photos


Sports
Facebook
Poll

Do you think safe rooms and storm shelters should be required for all school buildings?

A. Yes.
B. No.
     View Results
Opinion
Twitter Updates
Follow us on twitter
Follow me on Twitter
Business