Texas County Sheriff Scott Lindsey’s monthly update

Each year on Aug. 28, new statutes passed by legislators in Missouri take effect. Here are a few of the criminal statutes that changed this year.

A provision was added under section 571.031 that makes it illegal to recklessly discharge a firearm within or into the limits of a municipality. The intent of this statute was to address celebratory gunfire into the air. Most incorporated cities already have city ordinances to address this offense.

The offense of unlawful possession of firearms by a felon was modified to increase the penalty from a class D felony to a class C felony, and if the person has a prior conviction for a dangerous felony it is enhanced to class B.

Section 575.151 was amended to increase the penalties for fleeing from a law enforcement officer in a vehicle starting at a class D felony and ranging all the way to a class A felony if a person dies during the chase. There are a number of other laws that took effect as well outside of the criminal statutes mentioned.

The second week of August marked the summer edition of the Missouri Sheriffs’ Association training conference. Twenty-five sheriffs had already announced their retirement before the primary election, and several others were not reelected. In our area there will be new sheriffs in Howell, Shannon, Pulaski and Laclede counties along the borders of Texas County. The training provided to sheriffs at the conference focused on leadership and liability issues.

On Aug. 11, 1979, Tammy Surdam ( www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/1457947/1 ) was reported missing in Saint Charles, Missouri. Tammy was last known to be living from home to home in the Cabool area around that time. Tammy was 13 years old when she was last seen. If anyone has information about Tammy, please contact our office.

Primary elections were held throughout Missouri and Texas County Aug. 6. There were no issues with the elections in Texas County that were reported to the sheriff’s office. Thank you to everyone that exercised their rights to go and vote. Texas County schools are back in session. I urge you to use extra caution when driving at the times that school buses are on the roads.

Texas County deputies responded to over 20 incidents of domestic violence during the month of August. Investigations also led to the recovery of several stolen items including a boat, trailer, lawn mower and motorcycle. Charges are being submitted to the prosecuting attorney for these investigations.

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