Fulton Sun

Fulton Councilman Steven L. Moore, 51, has been arrested again — this time on a Class C felony charge of writing a bad check for more than $500.

The Callaway County Sheriff’s Department reported Moore was arrested on Nov. 29 on the felony check charge.

Moore was released from Callaway County Jail on Nov. 29 after he posted a $5,000 surety bond.

Moore was arraigned in Callaway County Circuit Court on Dec. 8. and he pleaded not guilty to the bad check charge. A trial will be set later.

Moore was free on two years of unsupervised probation involving a charge of driving while intoxicated.

On Nov. 15, 2009, Moore was arrested in connection with an accident with injuries on Highway 94 at State Road D in Callaway County. The arrest in that case was for a class C felony driving while intoxicated assault with injuries charge. That charge was filed because people were injured in the accident that also involved a driving while intoxicated offense.

Moore’s DWI case was delayed numerous times. Several Callaway County judges and prosecutors declined to participate in the case because they were acquainted with the councilman.

In the end, all Callaway County judges declined to participate and Circuit Judge Gary Oxenhandler of Columbia heard Moore’s case. All Callaway County prosecutors also declined to participate and Special Prosecutor Robert J. Ahsens III of Jefferson City, a retired Missouri assistant attorney general, was brought in to prosecute the case.

The felony DWI assault charge was reduced by Ahsens to a misdemeanor DWI charge and a misdemeanor failure to drive on the right side of the road charge.

After his guilty plea, Moore was sentenced to 30 days in jail on the Class B misdemeanor DWI charge and 10 days in jail on the Class A misdemeanor charge of failure to drive on the right half of the roadway.

Judge Oxenhandler suspended execution of both jail terms and imposed two years of unsupervised probation in addition to the suspended jail terms. It meant Moore escaped doing jail time but the conditions of keeping his two years of probation required him to report any arrest or summons to the court within 48 hours.

To keep his probation and stay out of jail, Moore also was required to pay court costs of $118.50 within 30 days of his Aug. 2 sentencing.

The probation also required Moore to:

• Complete an RCR Victim impact panel HELP program and file proof of completion of the program within 60 days.

• Receive a substance abuse assessment by a certified SATOP agency within 60 days and follow the recommendations of the assessment.

• Not occupy a private motor vehicle after consuming intoxicants.

• Submit to a chemical test at the request of any law enforcement officer.

In Moore’s latest arrest, the Callaway County Prosecuting Attorney’s office again has stepped aside and Ahsens has returned as special prosecutor in Moore’s Class C felony bad check charge involving a check for more than $500.