Audrain County Jury Convicts Mexico Man On Multiple Charges Including Drug Trafficking
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 7th after a Mexico man was found guilty of multiple charges on Monday, August 26, 2024.
53-year-old Larry Karhoff was found guilty of six charges involving drugs and weapons after a case was carried out at the Audrain County Court House in a one-day trial.
A jury of 12 people took about two hours to find Karhoff guilty.
According to a press release from the Audrain County Prosecutor’s Office:
KARHOFF CONVICTED OF DRUG TRAFFICKING, FIREARM CHARGES
Audrain County Prosecuting Attorney Jacob Shellabarger announces that Larry Dale Karhoff, 53, of Mexico, Mo., was found guilty of six counts: two counts of Trafficking in the First Degree for methamphetamine and fentanyl, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and Driving While Revoked.
A jury of eleven women and one man found Karhoff guilty after about two hours of deliberations at the Audrain County Courthouse in Mexico today.
Circuit Judge Jason Lamb presided over the single-day trial. Prosecuting Attorney Shellabarger and probationary Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Jordan Duenckel tried the case August 26, 2024, to an Audrain County jury.
Karhoff will be sentenced October 7.
“Methamphetamine and fentanyl are killing people in our community, and drug traffickers are responsible for bringing these lethal substances into our homes, schools and community.” Shellabarger said.
“Larry Karhoff, a career criminal, had four controlled substances at the time of arrest, and the jury convicted him of each one. He had 18 times the trafficking amount of fentanyl and significantly more than the trafficking amount for methamphetamine. These drugs, intercepted by good police work, are now off our streets.”
“Mr. Karhoff had a gun on him at the time of the traffic stop.” Shellabarger said.
“That gun was in his pants. He had ammunition on his person, and guns make our streets more dangerous when they are possessed by felons and criminals. Drugs and guns don’t mix. We will aggressively and consistently hold firearm offenders accountable. Law abiding citizens should know we will protect lawful firearms possession and use by citizens, but those won’t follow our laws should not be armed.”
The incident occurred on February 5, 2022, when a Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper noticed a car with what he believed was a revoked driver.
Larry Karhoff, the driver, was revoked. He was arrested for that, and searched, where the Trooper found methamphetamine, fentanyl, alprazolam and hydrocodone, as well as a Ruger handgun found in Larry’s pants.
Karhoff has multiple prior convictions for controlled substances, including distribution of a controlled substance, and as a felon in possession of a firearm and unlawful use of a weapon.
“The jury was very attentive to the evidence, and listened intently to the facts through this trial.” Shellabarger said.
“I commend them for their focus, persistence and dedication to a just result. This jury has delivered a powerful message to this community that drug offenders will face justice, illegal firearms will be stopped, and actions have consequences.”
“The Missouri State Highway Patrol deserves high praise for a thorough investigation in this case,” Shellabarger said.
“Troopers and our law enforcement partners are doing drug interdiction every day in our community, and stopping the flow of illegal drugs into our community requires a lot of effort and focus.
They have met this challenge and continue to do so daily. We would also like to thank the Missouri State Highway Patrol criminalist for completing laboratory analysis to confirm these dangerous drugs’ weight and nature.”
The case number is 22AU-CR00079-01, State vs. Larry Karhoff.
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