After a two-year undercover investigation, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office arrested 44 persons Tuesday, in addition to obtaining warrants to arrest several others. Most of the charges are drug-related, including several persons charged with distributing drugs near schools.
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Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox issued a press release today outlining how the investigation proceeded after the Livingston County Commissioners approved his request to hire a deputy sheriff to exclusively work in an undercover role on a part-time basis. He said the deputy, known only as Deputy F. Frazier, was assigned to establish his/herself in the county and build contacts and friendships with multiple people by associating with persons in various locations of the county and subsequently identify sources of illegal drugs, drug manufacturing/distribution and other criminal activity. Cox said the deputy had limited contact with the sheriff’s office and one person with the Missouri Highway Patrol in order to maintain a high level of safety and confidentiality for the deputy and further increase the integrity of the investigations.
“As our deputy slowly began making narcotic purchases, with each passing month, the deputy built credibility and confidence with area persons and was no longer looked upon as an outsider or possible ‘cop’,” said Cox. “It took approximately one full year before in-depth contacts and friendships were established. The longer the operation was in place, the amount of intelligence on criminal activity continually increased. This information was not only in the area of drug sales/distribution/manufacturing and use, but included drug networks within our community and many other jurisdictions.”
Cox said his office had originally planned to end the undercover operation in early 2007, however, just prior to the murder of Carl Clevenger in Wheeling on March 22, 2007, Deputy Frazier had become acquainted with Clevenger and several other people. The deputy’s information was and continues to be, according to Cox, of extreme importance in that murder investigation. The decision was ultimately made by Cox to continue with the operation as crucial evidence in that murder and other serious crimes was being gathered. Although Cox said his office believes that the murder weapon was recovered and one person associated with his death was later shot and killed in South Dakota, there are still many questions surrounding the murder.
Last summer, Deputy Frazier provided information that resulted in the seizure of an improvised explosive device and additional explosive and bomb-making material. The person(s) believed to be to be involved in that incident have been interviewed by the N.I.T.R.O. Federal Task Force for further investigation.
Cox said it was decided to end this part of the investigation now primarily due to receiving information from one of the suspects that he/she allegedly wanted to have a person murdered in the very near future. Having completed several arrests, the sheriff’s office is continuing that investigation at the present time to determine if substantial steps have taken place to warrant a conspiracy violation. Based on the evidence collected, Cox said, his office believes it was prudent to prevent the potential opportunity for serious injury or death. The citizen who was allegedly targeted has been made aware of the discussions.
Charges filed range from second degree murder, distri-bution/delivery of a controlled substance, distribution of a controlled substance near a school, distribution of a controlled substance near public housing to various other drug offenses, as well as burglary and forgery. The individual charges for each defendant are not listed here.
Those arrested and their bonds include, Randall T. Anderson, Ludlow, $65,000 cash; Nicklous T. Baugher, Chillicothe, no bond listed; Trenelle Demetrious Beard, $75,000 cash; Jeffrey E. Brant, Crossroads Correctional Center, $35,000 cash; Ryan Mark Bundy, Chillicothe, $20,000 cash; Kenneth Wayne Chenet, Ludlow, $10,000 cash; Terry Clevenger, Missouri Department of Corrections, $150,000 cash; Bryan D. Davidson, Hamilton, $10,000 cash; Kullen Darrell Duff, $15,000 cash; Colton G. Duncan, Chillicothe, $5,000 cash; Christopher W. Evans, Moberly Correctional Center, $25,000 cash; Penny Evans, Chillicothe, $35,000 cash; Melody “Dawn” First, Chillicothe, $135,000; Ravin Rose Frost, Chillicothe, $100,000 cash; Charles Laurence Gardner, Chillicothe, $45,000; Shan’te D. Glasgow, Brookfield, $25,000 cash; Elysia N. Goodman, Wheeling, $25,000 cash; Billy Hatfield, Kansas City,$20,000 cash; Trena Mae Hatfield, no address listed, $190,000 cash; Cody Hayes, Chillicothe, $120,000 cash; Carol Head, Chillicothe, $100,000 cash; Trinity J. (T.J.) Helm, Chillicothe, $25,000 cash; Sherry Lynn Hicks, Chillicothe, $85,000 cash; Darian Lee Hueffmeier, Linneus, $50,000 cash; Joel Tracy Kellison, Chillicothe, $35,000 cash; Jeffrey Lee Kimbal, Chillicothe, $75,000 cash; Tony Michael Lamb, Wheeling, $75,000; Michael Ernest Oleson, Chillicothe, $75,000; Bruce Edward Packham, Brookfield, $75,000; Robert Edward Pittman, Chillicothe, $125,000 cash; Tia Michelle Pittman, Chillicothe, $50,000 cash; William R. Pollock, Airlane Trailer Park, $40,000 cash; Jaymie Lynne Richardson Pollard, Chillicothe, $50,000 cash; Marla Christine Quinn, Chillicothe, $50,000 cash; Clyde Robinson, Wheeling, $125,000 cash; Brandon Scott Simpson, Chillicothe, $35,000 cash; Alicia Ann Smith, Chillicothe, $25,000 cash; Gale Lorene Snider, Chillicothe, $5,000 cash; Tom L. Snider, Chillicothe, no bond, as he is being held while a warrant is obtained; Jerry Carl Steele, Kirksville, $10,000 cash; Robert W. Sturgeon, Jr., Chillicothe, $15,000 cash or corporate surety; Robert W. Sturgeon, Chillicothe, $15,000 cash or corporate surety; Marty James Thorne, Chillicothe, $100,000 cash; Brandi J. Tuttle, Chillicothe, $35,000 cash; Amy Lynn Walker (also known as Amy Gastineau and Amy Wright), $35,000 cash; Donald Eric Walker, Chillicothe, $45,000 cash; Todd Derwin Walker, Missouri Department of Corrections, $35,000 cash; Tresa L. Wilson, Chillicothe, $50,000 cash; and Lamonda Wyrick, Excelsior Springs, $15,000 cash.
Those not arrested but for whom warrants have been issued include Sean Peter Benavidez, Hale; Connie Burkhart King, Chillicothe; Andrew Cameron Cairns, Camdenton; Wesley Dale Davis, Chillicothe; Marsha B. Cordray Gardner, Chillicothe; Zachary Aaron Rothman, Humphreys; Jeffrey Allen Storm, Wheeling; Dustin Ritchie, Chillicothe; Victoria Libeer, Kansas City; Erica Rose Hayes, Chillicothe; and Carl O. (Woody) Head, Braymer.