Following recent major drug bust, jail and court system face unusual challenges

The recent drug warrant sweep that netted more than 25 arrests was only the start of the efforts to stamp out drug crimes in Sedalia for many Pettis County officials.

Earlier this month, Sedalia police served arrest warrants to nearly 30 people suspected of selling drugs in the city. The arrest sweep was the culmination of a seven-month undercover investigation.

For prosecutors, defense attorneys and jail staff, the impact of the numerous simultaneous arrests stemming from the undercover operation will be felt throughout the coming months.

Pettis County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Mittelhauser said his office has already spent close to a week between preparing charges, indictments, arraignments and presenting five of the cases to grand juries, but he said the cases related to the arrest sweep are still in the early stages.

Over the course of the operation, Mittelhauser also met with investigators to ensure the cases police were pursuing were as strong as possible. He suggested police monitor the undercover officer during drug buys, so they could later corroborate evidence and avoid pitting the word of the undercover officer against the defendants.

He also encouraged police to make multiple drug purchases from each suspect to overcome entrapment defenses, which can be pursued if police pester individuals into committing crimes they otherwise would not.

Mittelhauser said while he has seen similarly strong individual undercover cases, such a large and effectively corroborated undercover operation is unique.

Mittelhauser said the 31 cases amount to about 15 percent of the average felony charges filed annually in Pettis County.

“These are generally more serious charges than average felonies,” Mittelhauser said. “My guess is a higher percentage will go to trial.”

But more felony cases going to trial also will increase the burden on a local public defender system already working to address heavy caseloads.

Kathleen Brown, district defender for the region that includes Pettis, Saline, Lafayette and Cooper counties, previously said many of the suspects arrested in the sweep will receive representation from public defenders. The public defender system has been challenged with heavy caseloads throughout the year, and the addition of more than 20 felony cases will increase the burden its staff is facing, she said.

Mittelhauser said the cases associated with the undercover operation are still in the very early stages, and he does not expect any to go trial until April or May of next year.

Sheriff’s Capt. Sam Hargrave, administrator of the Pettis County Jail, said while some of the suspects from the undercover operation were already in the jail on the day of the sweep, the influx of inmates presented several logistical challenges for correctional officers. Obtaining information including medical histories, mental health conditions, contact information and planning for family visitations for close to 20 inmates in one day taxed the jail staff, and that was just the start.

“One of the things we always struggle with is classification. No doubt you have rival factions or gangs, and we have to keep them separate,” Hargrave said.

Hargrave commended the efforts of Sedalia police, but noted while their work on the operation largely concluded on the day of the sweep, the jail will have to manage the inmates for the next several months at least. He said about 90 percent of those arrested in the operation remain in Pettis County Jail, and most of the others were already serving time with the Department of Corrections.

“With more inmates, less attention can be paid to each individual,” Hargrave said. “These people have to be moved to court, have medical follow-ups, attorney visits and family visitation. The more people you get in, the more problems you’re dealing with.”

With recent reductions in part-time staff and many correctional officers wanting time off around the holidays, Hargrave said keeping enough staff on to handle potential medical emergencies, transportation to court and regular monitoring will not be easy.

“We have a bunch of dedicated officers who do their best day after day,” Hargrave said. “They do a great job with having a lot of demands on them.”