Polk County Missouri Prosecuting Attorney's Office

Polk County Missouri Prosecuting Attorney's Office The Prosecutor's Office represents Polk County and the State of Missouri in criminal cases. We are not able to take reports from the public.

The Prosecutor's Office represents the county and the State of Missouri in all criminal cases for crimes committed in Polk County, Missouri. How it works:
The process starts with the local law enforcement officers who will prepare a report along with a probable cause statement. After that report is received by our office, we will review the file and then either file a charge against the defendant

or refer the file back to law enforcement for further review. If you want to report a crime you should start with your local law enforcement office. Meet the team:
Keaton Ashlock is our Elected Prosecuting Attorney. We are currently hiring for the position of Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. Sierra Ronspies is our misdemeanor clerk. She handles traffic tickets, bad checks, probation, and other misdemeanor cases. Jennifer Hawkins is our felony clerk. She handles all felony cases. Lynn Cuming is our receptionist and office manager. Charity Rone is our victims’ advocate. She consults with the victims of our cases to keep them informed about what’s going on with their court cases, as well as explaining the process to them and helping them find resources. Kari Hargus is our circuit victims' advocate. She consults with victims in the counties of Dallas and Hickory, and assists in Polk County as necessary.

Polk County Prosecuting Attorney Secures Conviction Against Curtis "Chris" Benenhaley Jr. on Charges Including Statutory...
10/29/2024

Polk County Prosecuting Attorney Secures Conviction Against
Curtis "Chris" Benenhaley Jr. on Charges Including Statutory So**my and In**st

October 29, 2024 – Clinton, MO – Today, Polk County Prosecuting Attorney Keaton Ashlock announced a conviction in the case against Curtis “Chris” Benenhaley Jr., who was found guilty on all charges after a two-day jury trial held at the Henry County Courthouse following a change of venue. The jury returned verdicts on five serious charges, including two counts of statutory so**my in the first degree, two counts of in**st, and one count of tampering with a victim in a felony prosecution.

The convictions stem from incidents that took place between June 2021 and January 2022 at a residence in Humansville, Missouri, where the defendant engaged in “deviate sexual in*******se” with a victim under the age of 12 who was his descendant by blood. Benenhaley then threatened to kill the victim’s family members if she reported the offenses.

The trial commenced with the state presenting evidence on the first day, with closing arguments and deliberation on the following day. The prosecution utilized the 2014 Missouri constitutional amendment (Article I, Section 18(c)), which permits evidence of prior criminal sexual offenses to be presented in court to establish a pattern or propensity in similar cases. Evidence of Benenhaley’s previous 2005 conviction in Vernon County for statutory r**e and in**st was thus presented, aiding the jury in understanding the defendant's established history.

The statutory so**my charges carry the potential of life sentences for each count, and the convictions for in**st and victim tampering could result in an additional combined fifteen-year sentence. The date for sentencing has yet to be announced.

We are grateful to the jury for their service and dedication to justice and to the law enforcement professionals who ensured a thorough investigation. Our hope is that today’s verdict provides some measure of closure and relief for the victim and their family and prevents this defendant from committing offenses against any other children.

10/24/2024

The Polk County Prosecutor's Office has dismissed the charges against Corey Nielsen. See press release at the following link:https://polkcountymo.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Nielsen-Decision.pdf

The Polk County Prosecutor’s Office is pleased to announce that on July 30, 2024, a Polk County jury found defendant Chr...
08/01/2024

The Polk County Prosecutor’s Office is pleased to announce that on July 30, 2024, a Polk County jury found defendant Christopher A. Odom guilty of two counts assault in the second degree, felony property damage, driving while intoxicated, two counts felony harassment, and four counts armed criminal action – 3rd offense.

Evidence presented at trial showed that on January 17, 2024, Christopher Odom engaged in a verbal altercation with the victims in the Walmart parking lot in Bolivar, Missouri. He then chased the victims with his vehicle through the City of Bolivar and into the Bolivar Police Department parking lot, ramming into the victim’s vehicle multiple times. Both victims testified they believed Christopher Odom was going to kill them and that the defendant caused serious damage to their vehicle. During their investigation Bolivar Police Department officers Joshua Nystrom and Timothy Stillings obtained a breath sample from the defendant that revealed a blood-alcohol level of 0.143% (for reference, the “legal limit” in Missouri is .08%)

Christopher Odom has previously been convicted of violent offenses and is a prior and persistent felony offender. His prior offenses include two convictions for assault first degree and armed criminal action. In each of those prior cases, he admitted to stabbing his victims.

Circuit Judge Michael O. Hendrickson accepted the guilty verdict, setting the sentencing date for on November 4, 2024.

This case was prosecuted by Polk County Prosecutor Keaton Ashlock and Assistant Prosecutor Kelli G. Anderson. The Prosecutor’s Office thanks the many members of our community that fulfilled their civic duty in jury selection and furthermore thanks those that were selected to serve on the jury itself to hear the case. It is an essential part of our judicial system. The Polk County Prosecutor’s Office is dedicated to the safety and well-being of Polk County and will work tirelessly to bring violent offenders to justice and hold those who commit violent crime in our community accountable.

See link for official press release: purple-shirline-37.tiiny.site

Michael Gene Bolling (age 71) was found to have violated his probation and was ordered to serve 10 years in prison. (Cas...
02/15/2024

Michael Gene Bolling (age 71) was found to have violated his probation and was ordered to serve 10 years in prison. (Case Number 1931-CR07083)

Mr. Bolling pled guilty to the charge of Child Molestation – 2nd Degree on December 12, 2020 for touching the breast of a female child under the age of twelve for the purpose of arousing or gratifying his own sexual desire. Although this was an offense that occurred in Polk County and was investigated and prosecuted by the Polk County Sheriff and Prosecutor’s office, there had been a change of venue to Judge Jerry Harmison’s Court in Greene County.

While on probation in August of 2023, Mr. Bolling was found to be in possession of a firearm at his residence in Bolivar. The Polk County Prosecutor’s Office then pursued a motion to revoke his probation, and Mr. Bolling admitted said violation at a February 15, 2024 court hearing. Judge Jerry Harmison ordered the ex*****on of his previously imposed--but suspended--10 year sentence.

This type of charge requires that eighty-five percent of the sentence be served before the violator is eligible for parole.

The 2020 offer of probation was made only after consultation and approval of the victim’s family. Offers in these types of cases are made with many things taken into consideration such as risks of winning/losing at trial, effects on child witnesses, and what sentence a judge would ultimately give if a trial were successful.

https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=1931-CR07083&inputVO.courtId=CT31

07/07/2023

Polk County and the City of Bolivar have issued burn bans effective Friday, July 7, 2023, until further notice. Open burning is completely restricted. Fires are allowed only in grills and designated fire pits.

Questions about fires in Polk County can be directed to the Polk County Office of Emergency Management at 417-326-6610.

Questions about fires inside of Bolivar city limits can be directed to the Bolivar City Fire Department at 417-328-5853.

Notice will be given when the burn bans are lifted.

On 6/5/23, Ronald L. Radford of Bolivar, MO pled guilty to the felony of Statutory So**my for committing deviate sexual ...
06/15/2023

On 6/5/23, Ronald L. Radford of Bolivar, MO pled guilty to the felony of Statutory So**my for committing deviate sexual in*******se with a child under the age of twelve. The acts concerned in the charge occurred between January and July of 2022.

Upon said plea, Mr. Radford was sentenced to twelve years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, of which he will be required to serve 85 percent of the sentence before being potentially eligible for parole. Mr. Radford will be required to submit to lifetime supervision including constant GPS monitoring upon release.

Case number 22PO-CR01024

What would have otherwise likely resulted in traffic tickets results in a four year felony prison sentence after man fle...
04/27/2023

What would have otherwise likely resulted in traffic tickets results in a four year felony prison sentence after man flees.

Hugo Roberto Espinoza was sentenced to four years in prison for violating probation by fleeing a traffic stop and creating a substantial risk of death or serious injury. He was on probation for the same type of crime, from events occurring on May 26, 2019.

Mr. Espinoza was placed on felony probation on June 25, 2020 with a suspended 4 year sentence for the 2019 acts, in which he fled from a MSHP Trooper at speeds of up to 120 miles per hour on a motorcycle while carrying a passenger. The incident ended with Espinoza crashing the motorcycle, ejecting both riders.

He violated by fleeing from a law enforcement stop on January 2, 2023, with charges relating to that still pending in the Polk County Associate Court. My office filed and argued a motion to revoke his probation case, and on April 26, 2023, Associate Judge Jill Porter found Espinoza to have violated and executed his previously imposed 4 year sentence.

Case Number 19PO-CR00940-01

On 4/24/23, Lucas Emery Lynch was sent to prison for 5 years after violating probation.Lynch was on probation for Domest...
04/26/2023

On 4/24/23, Lucas Emery Lynch was sent to prison for 5 years after violating probation.

Lynch was on probation for Domestic Assault 2nd Degree relating to offenses from April 2019. Lynch was placed on probation with a suspended imposition of sentence in January of 2020 before violating and being revoked in June 2021 and placed on Suspended Ex*****on of Sentence probation with a 5 year backup.

Lucas continued to violate probation, so our office filed and argued a motion to revoke, citing amongst other things that the defendant was recently found to be in possession of methamphetamine and arrested for delivery of controlled substance on 1/17/22, as well as failing to report to treatment court and testing positive for methamphetamine in September 2022.

Circuit Judge Michael O. Hendrickson found defendant to have committed said violations and executed the previously imposed 5 year sentence. Case Number 19PO-CR00548

Lynch subsequently pled guilty on 4/26/23 to charges relating to the aforementioned 1/17/22 delivery of a controlled substance offense, receiving another 5 years in prison. Case Number 22PO-CR00076-01

Address

102 E Broadway Street, Ste 4
Bolivar, MO
65613

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+14173265756

Website

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