The following cases were heard May 10 by Judge Kevin Crane in Division 3 of Callaway County Circuit Court:
• Charles John Neal, 30, of Holts Summit, pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated (third offense) and misdemeanor leaving the scene of an accident. Neal admitted to operating a vehicle on U.S. 54 in August 2021 while under the influence of alcohol. A concerned motorist notified authorities of an erratic driver. The Missouri Highway Patrol trooper who responded found Neal had been involved in a single-vehicle crash after driving off the road, striking a road sign and post, then going through a private yard and back into ditches before driving back onto 54. He admitted to leaving the scene. The DWI offense was enhanced to a felony based on Neal's previous convictions for DWI in 2012 and 2015 in Osage and Boone counties. The judge sentenced Neal to three years in prison for the DWI offense and 60 days in jail for the misdemeanor leaving the scene offense.
The following cases were heard May 16 by Judge Brouck Jacobs in Division 1 of Callaway County Circuit Court:
• Aaron Jason Boydston, 44, of Fulton, was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of DWI (third offense) and third-degree domestic assault. Boydston had been on probation for the offenses, admitted violating probation, and the judge revoked it. The cases were originally investigated by the Missouri Highway Patrol and Fulton Police Department.
• Jerren Wayde Harris, 27, of Fulton, pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a weapon and fourth-degree domestic assault. Harris admitted to being involved in a domestic disturbance at his home that involved other family members. In the course of the disturbance, he exited the residence and forced his way into an outbuilding where he fired a handgun through a door. One of the bullets ricocheted and struck a family member in the leg, causing a minor injury. The judge sentenced Harris to four years in prison on the weapon offense and recommended he complete a substance abuse treatment program in the Department of Corrections before being considered for release. The judge sentenced Harris to 120 days in jail for the domestic assault offense. The case was investigated by the Callaway County Sheriff's Office.
• Jason Patrick Mushrush, 33, of Fulton, pleaded guilty to charges of tampering with a motor vehicle (two counts) and felony stealing (three counts). Mushrush admitted to possessing a stolen John Deere UTV and zero-turn mower between November 2020 and January 2021. He also admitted to stealing a flatbed utility trailer during that same time period. In a separate case, Mushrush admitted stealing a Ram flatbed truck and a veterinary ultrasound machine in October 2021. The judge sentenced him to four years in prison for each of the offenses. Both cases were investigated by the Callaway County Sheriff's Office.
• James David Pace, 40, of Holts Summit, pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary and felony stealing. Pace admitted to acting in concert with others to burglarize a storage unit in Holts Summit in January 2020, stealing a set of wheels and tires. The judge suspended execution of sentences and placed him on five years of supervised probation. The case was investigated by the Callaway County Sheriff's Office.
• Ollice Eddie Lee Upchurch, 55, of Jefferson City, pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated (fifth offense). Upchurch admitted to operating a vehicle on U.S. 54 in July 2020 while under the influence of alcohol. He was stopped by a trooper for speeding. The trooper observed multiple signs of intoxication and requested Upchurch perform field sobriety tests, which he refused. He provided a breath sample, which revealed his blood alcohol content to be nearly twice the legally presumed level of intoxication. The offense was enhanced to a felony based on Upchurch's previous DWI convictions in 1996, 2000 and 2003 in Cole County, and 2006 in Miller County. The judge sentenced him to four years in prison. Under Missouri law, Upchurch must serve at least two years in prison before he is eligible for parole. The case was investigated by the Missouri Highway Patrol.
• Charlie Walters, 44, of California, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). Walters admitted to possessing the drug in December 2019 when a vehicle in which he was a passenger was stopped for a registration violation. In the course of the stop, He was arrested on outstanding warrants and was found in possession of the drug when he was booked into the Callaway County Jail. The judge sentenced Walters to four years in prison to be served with sentences he was already serving. The case was investigated by the Holts Summit Police Department and Callaway County Sheriff's office.