NEOSHO, Mo. —
A retired Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper turned himself in Wednesday at the Newton County Sheriff’s Department on charges that he sexually molested an underage girl and assaulted another.
James D. Hall, 70, was charged Tuesday in Newton County Circuit Court with a felony count of first-degree child molestation and a misdemeanor count of third-degree assault.
The Missouri attorney general’s office filed the charges and is prosecuting the case because of Hall’s previous relationship with the local prosecutor’s office as a longtime officer in Southwest Missouri. Hall served with the state patrol from June 1, 1964, through June 30, 1997.
Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland said an investigation into the allegations Hall is facing began earlier this year when a parent of one of the girls contacted the sheriff’s office.
A probable-cause affidavit written by an investigator with the attorney general’s office refers to interviews of an 11-year-old girl and her parents with respect to the felony count of child molestation.
The affidavit states that the girl told investigators that Hall for several years had repeatedly touched her clothing in the area of her genitals and her “bottom.” The most recent occasion was in February of this year, the affidavit alleges.
The document states that Detective Mike Barnett of the sheriff’s office contacted Hall about the matter on Feb. 17, and Hall denied having touched the girl inappropriately. Further interviews of the girl and her parents were conducted in June by the investigator with the attorney general’s office.
On Aug. 10, the investigator in another interview was told that the girl had told another person in February that Hall kissed her in an inappropriate manner and tried to put his hands down her pants, but that she was able to prevent him from succeeding.
The affidavit further alleges that Hall rubbed the thigh of another 11-year-old girl on more than one occasion.
The girl told investigators that this made her feel “awkward, weird and funny,” and that she would try to cross her legs or scoot away from him, but he would move close to her again and resume touching her.
The second girl is the alleged victim cited in the misdemeanor assault charge.
Free on bond
JAMES “J.D.” HALL, a former Missouri State Highway Patrol officer who lives in Neosho, surrendered himself on child molestation and assault charges Wednesday morning, posted a $5,000 bond, and was released.
May 2011 Joplin tornado
Longtime state trooper facing felony charge
- May 2011 Joplin tornado
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Federal, state leaders salute Joplin’s recovery
A deadly May twister may have punched a hole in Joplin and Duquesne two years ago, but the resolve to repair it will help other communities stand strong when they face similar disasters. That was the message of state and national diginitaries to a crowd of about 2,500 who observed the second anniversary of Joplin’s devastating May 22, 2011, storm during a ceremony Wednesday in Cunningham Park.
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SLIDESHOW: One year later, One day of unity, updated
Photos from a day of events commemorating the May 22, 2011 tornado anniversary
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Banner from Joplin to be sent to Moore residents
A giant vinyl banner adorned with heartfelt messages from Joplin tornado survivors to the residents of Moore, Okla., became a centerpiece of Wednesday’s observance of the two-year anniversary of the May 22, 2011, tornado.
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Rick Rescorla award named for hero of Vietnam War, 9-11 terror attacks
The Rick Rescorla National Award for Resilience is named for a 62-year-old vice president of security for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. who directed an evacuation of the company’s 2,700-person workforce in the South Tower of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2011.
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Community gearing up for two-year anniversary ceremony this afternoon
With the playground full of children, it could be any other day at Joplin’s Cunningham Park, but the white tents popping up and neat rows of white chairs lined up nearby indicate something more is happening today.
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Farmers Insurance teams up with Rebuild Joplin
Farmers Insurance announced Tuesday that the company will team up with Rebuild Joplin for an initiative to help the community complete its recovery efforts. The company already has placed one of its executives in Joplin, and it is pledging additional funds and volunteer hours by company workers to go toward the city’s recovery.
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Joplin man continues struggle to recover two years after tornado
As the Joplin tornado passed overhead, sweeping the house at 2430 S. Pennsylvania Ave. away in its wake, there was a moment of calm. Delbert Mcguirk was on his back in the basement, where he had sought shelter along with his wife, daughter and two grandchildren. In that moment of relative quiet, he stared up into the eye of the tornado.
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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.
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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.
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FACES OF RECOVERY: 176,869 volunteers help put Joplin together again
They initially came in droves, pouring into Joplin by the thousands during the months following the May 2011 tornado to clear debris, clean up damaged homes and businesses and distribute donations of food, water, clothing and other necessities.
- More May 2011 Joplin tornado Headlines
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