Court cases heard in Pettis County Monday

Peter J. Merlati, 40, of Jefferson City, pleaded guilty Monday to assault in the first degree in connection with an attack in the Pettis County Jail on July 5. Merlati stabbed inmate Roy Sisemore with a homemade knife. Sisemore was treated at the Bothwell Regional Health Center emergency room for several cuts. After the attack, which was video recorded in the jail, Merlati told Pettis County Sheriff’s Capt. Dave Keller that he stabbed Sisemore because he was being “disrespectful to other inmates and (jail) staff.”
Judge Paul Beard sentenced Merlati to 20 years in prison.
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Judge Robert L. Koffman heard these cases Monday, according to Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Mittelhauser:

•Aaron Argenbright, 27, of Sedalia, pleaded guilty to tampering in the first degree, admitting that on Aug. 28, he drove a truck taken from an auto repair shop in Clifton City without consent of the owner. Argenbright was placed on probation for five years with requirements that he serve 60 days in jail as shock detention and pay restitution for damages to the pickup.

•Danielle Bierschbach, 20, of Sedalia, was sentenced to two years in prison for possession of a controlled substance. She was arrested Nov. 3, 2006, when the Sedalia Police Department served a search warrant on a Sedalia motel room occupied by Bierschbach and several others. Officers found more than 35 grams of marijuana in the room. Bierschbach was originally admitted into the Drug Court Program but terminated for continued drug use and other violations. She entered her guilty plea in December 2007 and the state recommended a 210-day jail sentence. She then failed to appear in court for sentencing, leading to the longer sentence.

•Jorge Castaneda, 51, of Sedalia, pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated. Missouri Highway Patrolman Mark DeGraffenreid arrested Castaneda June 6 on U.S. 50 west of Sedalia. The DWI was a felony because Castaneda had two prior convictions. Sentencing was set for Jan. 5.

•Daniel Delana, 48, of Sedalia, pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated and was sentenced to three years in prison. Sedalia Police Officer Cameron Egan arrested Delana July 11. The offense was a felony because Delana has two prior DWI convictions.

•Michael Eller, 50, and Geronima Eller, 57, of Sedalia, were placed on probation on a felony drug charge and ordered to serve 240 days in jail on a misdemeanor. An investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol led to the arrest of the two on August 30, 2007, after they were seen purchasing hydroponic growing equipment at a store in Overland Park. They subsequently consented to a search of their home on Broadway, where officers recovered marijuana plants and drug paraphernalia.

•Terry Gollaher, 29, of Hannibal, pleaded guilty to criminal non-support of a minor child. The case was continued March 11 for sentencing, which is contingent upon Gollaher’s payment of child support over the next four months.

•Michael Gregory, 25, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty to criminal non-support of a minor child. The case was continued to March 11 for sentencing, which is contingent upon Gregory’s payment of child support over the next four months.

•James Henley, 48, of Sedalia, pleaded guilty to possession of more than 35 grams of marijuana and unlawful transactions with a child arising from a Nov. 19, 2007, arrest. On that date, members of the Sedalia Police Department’s Drug Enforcement Unit served a search warrant at the defendant’s home at 1317 E. Broadway Blvd., finding about a half pound of marijuana in the house. The prosecuting attorney recommended probation on the possession charge and 240 days in jail on the unlawful transactions charge, which was based on the fact that Henley’s minor child also lived in the home. Sentencing was set for Jan. 5. Charges were pending against codefendant Teresa Henley.

•Danny Neubauer, 52, address unknown, pleaded guilty to stealing by deceit and passing a bad check in connection with a 2002 incident involving the theft of jewelry from Connie McLaughlin. Neubauer admitted he misrepresented that he would sell the jewelry on consignment, paying the proceeds to McLaughlin. A check given in partial payment for the jewelry bounced. The case was continued to Jan. 5 for sentencing, which will be contingent upon the defendant’s payment of restitution before then.

•Daniel Ware, 34, address unknown, pleaded guilty to violating the sex offender registration law, admitting that in November 2007 he moved from his last reported address without notifying the Sheriff’s Department of his new address within 10 days. He was sentenced to serve 150 days in jail.

•Michael Wilson, 18, of Sedalia, was ordered to serve four years in prison when his probation was revoked on a tampering charge. The defendant was placed on probation July 21 after he entered a guilty plea to the offense. Wilson’s probation was revoked because he failed to meet with his probation officer and failed to make restitution payments.

•Eric Wissman, 26, of Sedalia, was ordered to serve five years in prison upon the revocation of his probation for receiving stolen property. He was placed on probation in 2002. His probation was revoked because he stopped paying restitution and absconded from supervision.

•Samual Wry, 28, of Barnett, pleaded guilty to a felony driving while intoxicated. On Aug. 8, Sedalia Police Officer Ryan Reed stopped Wry near Broadway Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue after receiving information about a possibly intoxicated driver in that area. The offense was a felony because Wry has two prior convictions for DWI. He was sentenced to serve two years in prison.