The following cases were heard on February 7, 2022, in the Circuit Court of Callaway County, Missouri, Division I, Honorable Jeff Harris presiding:
Monteze Terron Adell, 48, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated (3rd offense). Adell admitted that he operated a vehicle on Highway 54 in January 2021 while under the influence of alcohol. Adell came to the attention of authorities when other motorists reported his vehicle driving erratically on the highway. A deputy sheriff located the vehicle and stopped Adell. The deputy made contact with Adell and immediately noted the smell of an alcoholic beverage. Adell admitted having just finished drinking a beer and that empty bottle was in the passenger seat. Adell performed poorly on field sobriety tests and was arrested. He submitted a breath sample which indicated his blood alcohol content was two and a half times the level for legally presumed intoxication. The offense was enhanced to a felony based on Adell’s previous convictions for DWI in 2009 (St. Louis County) and 2019 (St. Clair County, Illinois). The judge sentenced Adell to 4 years in prison but suspended execution of that sentence and placed him on five years of supervised probation under several conditions, including that he serve 30 days shock detention in the county jail. The case was investigated by the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office.
Chris Alan Cook, 55, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to burglary in the second degree. Cook admitted that he unlawfully entered a residence on Old Highway 40 in October 2021 for the purpose of committing domestic assault. The female victim of the offense called 911 as the incident was occurring. Responding deputies located Cook outside the residence and took him into custody. The victim suffered no physical injuries during the incident and reported that she was in the process of separating from Cook and that he had apparently tracked her down to the residence. The victim reported she was afraid that Cook was going to assault her based on the history of acts of domestic violence he committed against her. The judge sentenced Cook to 4 years in prison. The case was investigated by the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office.
Keene Armone Ellis, 34, of Cincinnati, Ohio, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance (marijuana). Ellis admitted that he possessed the drug when a vehicle in which he was a passenger was stopped for equipment violations by a state trooper in March 2019. In the course of the stop, a deputy sheriff was called to the scene with a K-9 officer. The K-9 alerted on the vehicle and a search was conducted. Officers located and seized numerous THC-infused edibles, as well as approximately two pounds of marijuana. Ellis admitted to the officers that the drugs belonged to him, that he had quit his job to sell marijuana and that he recently purchased the marijuana in Colorado. The judge noted Ellis’ prior history of misdemeanor criminal convictions in Indiana, New Jersey and Ohio, and sentenced Ellis to 3 years in prison but suspended execution of that sentence and placed him on five years of supervised probation. The case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Callaway County Sheriff’s Office.
Rocky Joseph Hayes, 29, of Holts Summit, failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Gabriel Charles Horstman, 42, of Mokane, was sentenced to 4 years in prison on the charge of domestic assault in the second degree. Horstman had been on probation for the offense. Following a hearing, the judge found that Horstman had violated probation by committing new violations of the law. The case was originally investigated by the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office.
Shannon Lee Littrell, 42, of Mexico, pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated (3rd offense). Littrell admitted that he operated a vehicle on Highway 54 in November 2020 while under the influence of alcohol. Littrell was involved in a single vehicle incident in which he drove his car into the median of the highway and became stuck. A trooper made contact with him and immediately noted the smell of an alcoholic beverage. Littrell admitted having drank beer earlier. Littrell performed poorly on field sobriety tests and was arrested. He submitted to a breath sample which indicated his blood alcohol content was over the level for legally presumed intoxication. The offense was enhanced to a felony based on Littrell’s prior convictions for DWI in 2006 (Randolph County) and 2007 (Sullivan County). The judge sentenced Littrell to 4 years in prison but suspended execution of the sentence and placed him on five years of supervised probation under several conditions, including that he serve 30 days detention in the county jail and successfully complete the Audrain County DWI Court program. The case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Joseph Henry Payne, 29, of Fulton, pleaded guilty to delivery of a controlled substance (tetrahydrocannabinol). Payne admitted that he sold approximately two grams of THC wax to an undercover police officer in December 2020. The judge placed Payne on five years of supervised probation. The case was investigated by the Callaway County Sheriff’s Office and MUSTANG Drug Task Force.
Michael Shane Payne, 44, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to felony stealing. Payne admitted that he stole saw blades and a flashlight from a Fulton business in April 2021. The offense was enhanced to a felony based on Payne’s previous convictions for stealing in 2014 (two offenses in Cole County) and 2015 (Audrain County). The judge sentenced Payne to 4 years in prison and recommended that he complete a long-term substance abuse treatment program within the Department of Corrections before being considered for release. The case was investigated by the Fulton Police Department.