Courts

By NewsPress Now One of three teens charged in the 2023 death of a 15-year-old boy pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the case on Monday. Kaden Wilfong, 17, of St. Joseph entered the plea in front of Circuit Court Judge Patrick Robb. He admitted to being involved in the shooting of Carter P. Smith,

By NewsPress Now A man is facing charges in a Sunday evening stabbing that sent the victim to the hospital in need of emergency surgery. Brandon Kleppe, 37, is charged with second-degree assault and armed criminal action in the incident, which happened in the 2600 block of Penn Street. Officers were called to the hospital

By Marcus Clem A response to a local pastor’s recent request to modify his federal lawsuit against the City of St. Joseph and two of his critics contends the only remedy in the case should be its dismissal. Steven Greiert and Josh Blevins are defendants in the discrimination and defamation suit brought by Brian Kirk

By Marcus Clem A local couple convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol is potentially facing time behind bars, at least for part of each day, for a few weeks. Prosecutors said that for the offense of picketing, parading and demonstrating in the U.S. Capitol, to which they each pleaded guilty

By NewsPress Now The co-founder of a Christian health care ministry in St. Joseph pleaded guilty in federal court Monday for his part in an $8 million wire fraud conspiracy that took money from members without paying many claims. James L. McGinnis, 77, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and

By St. Joseph News-Press A St. Joseph man is in custody in connection with a shooting last weekend near North Ninth and Corby streets. Roy Lee Despain, 52, is charged with unlawful use of a weapon and is held at the Buchanan County Jail without bail. Despain allegedly shot at another man just before 6:30 p.m.

By NewsPress Now A St. Joseph man will serve two life sentences after being convicted of sex crimes involving a child. Jeffery D. Gray, 53, received the sentences Monday from Circuit Court Judge Patrick Robb. He was convicted by a jury in January on two counts of first-degree sodomy for crimes that happened between December

By Marcus Clem A former member of the governing body of the St. Joseph Public Library claims in a lawsuit that the decision not to re-appoint him last year is a violation of his rights. Brian Kirk filed a five-count civil complaint on Jan. 25. The listed defendants are the City of St. Joseph, Mayor

By NewsPress Now A St. Joseph man faces a charge of first-degree domestic assault after a woman allegedly was injected with insulin and had to be hospitalized. Kyle Guenthner, 44, is being held without bond in the case. According to a probable cause statement, he was employed as an LPN for a contract agency responsible

By Marcus Clem A local couple convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, incident at the U.S. Capitol won’t be sentenced on the schedule previously planned. Federal prosecutors have agreed to give Kim and Steven Dragoo three more months before they are to appear on April 12 before Judge Beryl Howell of the District of Columbia

By NewsPress Now A St. Joseph man was sentenced to 23 years in prison Thursday for producing pornographic images of three child victims and sharing them online. Tyler B. Wirth, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Gary A. Fenner to federal prison without parole for producing and possessing child pornography. In addition, Wirth will