Second Warrant Issued for Casa Maria’s Owner

The Butler County court issued an arrest warrant Tuesday for Crystal Umfress, the owner of Casa Maria’s Mexican Cantina in Columbia. This marks the second warrant issued for Umfress within a week. Umfress is accused of paying someone to set fire to a restaurant in Kennett in July 2023.

The latest warrant was issued for her failure to appear in court. A judge also revoked Umfress’s bond on Tuesday and set a new bond of $100,000 cash only, with nationwide extradition. On Sept.

18, prosecutors charged Umfress with forgery and filing false documents.

Warrant issued for Casa Maria’s owner

Investigators allege that she pretended to be an elected official in an attempt to have other businesses investigated and their liquor licenses revoked.

Umfress has not been arrested following the latest charges filed against her. This is the second case Umfress faces in southeast Missouri. She is also charged with second-degree arson in Butler County and has a jury trial scheduled for February 3, 2025.

According to court documents, Kerry Raymond was allegedly hired by Umfress to set the fire at Lupita’s Mexican Restaurant in Kennett. Raymond was also charged with second-degree arson, and his case was moved to Stoddard County in November 2023. A case review for Raymond is scheduled for February 13, 2025.

Casa Maria’s Mexican Cantina in Columbia was closed this summer after the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control claimed that a name on the license had been forged and that Umfress’s felony charge had not been disclosed.

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• Komu.”Owner of Columbia restaurant arrested in southeast Missouri”.
• ABC17News.”Failure-to-appear warrant issued for embattled Casa Maria’s owner in arson case”.
• Komu.”Second warrant issued for owner of Columbia restaurant”.

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