Charges are pending against Belle Mayor Daryl White, Jr., according to Maries County Prosecuting Attorney Anthony Skouby.

“I can confirm I was given a probable cause statement at approximately 1 something this afternoon,” Skouby said at 2:20 p.m. on Thursday. “Charges are being worked on at this present time. As of this morning, the Sheriff’s preliminary investigation was done. The Sheriff requested I file charges as soon as I was comfortable with doing so. I have made that charging decision and the staff is working on those charging documents this afternoon, despite one of the staff being scheduled to be off.”

Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman confirmed around 1:20 p.m. that he had submitted a request for charges.

“The prosecutor’s office has an affidavit requesting charges against White for stealing and official misconduct,” Heitman said.

White has yet to speak with the Maries County Sheriff after a search warrant was served at Belle City Hall around 11:50 a.m. Wednesday morning. However, Heitman confirmed today (Thursday) that White’s attorney contacted Maries County Judge Kerry G. Rowden and Skouby.

“White’s attorney contacted Judge Kerry Rowden and Prosecutor Tony Skouby and advised White will not be speaking to law enforcement and his attorney requested a summons be issued. The judge and prosecutor both agreed,” Heitman said.

Charges against the mayor are expected and he will be issued a court date.

A meeting this morning that the Belle Board of Aldermen expected to conduct at City Hall, with a Christmas Party to follow, has been canceled, according to a notice on the building’s door. Further, a second notice stated they would be closed today (Thursday). Business is not expected to open again until Dec. 26, which happens to be the final day to file for the April 7 municipal elections.

When asked why his department was looking for White, Heitman said they wanted to question the mayor about city items believed to be stolen.

“We would like to discuss with (White) items that have been stolen from the city,” Heitman said.

When asked what they were looking for, Heitman answered, “Any type of improprieties. I expect the financial aspect of the investigation to last for several months.”

The search warrant at Belle City Hall on Dec. 20 resulted in the seizure of copies of the city’s financial records and the DVR from the building’s security cameras in accordance with the Maries County Sheriff’s Office affidavit.

According to the affidavit for warrant request, Heitmfacebook

an requested to recover, “listed items, related receipts and documentation, and credit card utilized as well as to seize and safeguard any other items suspected of being stolen or evidence of any additional criminal activity.”

“Investigators are still actively going through the seized items,” Heitman said this morning, Dec. 21. “White is still a person of interest in the case.”

Heitman also requested permission to search, “all offices, drawers, cabinets, safes, and any other storage locations, and any area where items to be searched for can be hidden, concealed or secreted. The above-described evidence may be found in “hard copy form or stored in the form of magnetic or electronic coding on computer media or on media capable of being read by a computer or with the aid of computer equipment.”

Heitman alleged in the affidavit that, “a source who informed me the city of Belle Mayor Daryl White, Jr., was stealing from the city again.”

Heitman named witnesses who observed White stealing several cans of spray paint from the City Road Department garage. The source also stated a former public works employee would know more about the items and believed White was also misusing the city’s credit card again.

“The source suggested I check financial records,” Heitman said. “I contacted (former employee) about the paint purchased for the city. The (employee) stated he did not authorize the purchase, and White had another employee order it from a buddy of White’s. The employee stated the city did not need those items nor were they used by the city when they were employed there.”

According to the affidavit, Heitman obtained the packing slip from Sept. 26, for 36 cans of paint, of which 12 were black spray paint, three cans of lubricant, and 100 cable ties. Heitman also obtained city of Belle bills-to-be-paid from the October 2023 city council meeting, which included a $477.97 purchase to Kimball Midwest and signed minutes where White approved the purchases.

Heitman also alleged White took a firearm for the Belle Police Department

“I contacted Belle City Marshal Jerry Coborn about the incident,” Heitman continued in the affidavit. “While speaking with Marshal Coborn, he told me White also took one of the police department firearms and explained that this occurred while he was appointed by White as chief of police, and he had not been elected yet. Cobon said White and he were looking at the firearms in the locker on or about Nov. 20, 2022, when White saw a Glock that had a Masonic emblem on it. White stated, “I like this one, I am taking it home.”

According to the affidavit, Coborn said he knew it was wrong, but did not report the incident at the time because White was his boss, and he was in fear of losing his job and pay, and he needs the job to support his family.”

Coborn told Heitman he was obligated to share about the theft now because White continues to do wrong things.

During the evening hours of Dec. 19, 2023, Heitman said he contacted Coborn to get the serial number of the weapon and was informed it had been placed back in the evidence locker.

“I contacted Belle City Clerk and confirmed that all records, invoices, receipts, and orders are often placed using the city computers at the City Hall located at 200 East Third Street in Belle,” Heitman said. “Additionally, I want to confirm that none of the items stolen are located in City Hall or the Mayor’s office, and through my training and experience people who commit crimes of stealing often conceal items related to their crimes in private places.”

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s Office filed a petition in the Maries County Court on Dec. 19 against the city of Belle for allegations of violating Missouri Open Meetings Law (Sunshine Law). On Dec. 20, a summons was filed in Maries County Court to be served to the city of Belle. According to Missouri Case.Net, the summons has not yet been delivered.

FOR  MORE:

Sheriff serves search warrant at City Hall

https://mariescountyadvocate.com/stories/sheriff-serves-search-warrant-at-city-hall,106403

AG files Sunshine petition against Belle mayor, aldermen

https://mariescountyadvocate.com/stories/ag-files-sunshine-petition-against-belle-mayor-aldermen,106362?