UNION – The Warren County man convicted in February of killing Hermann Police Det. Sgt. Mason Griffith on Thursday afternoon was formally was sentenced to death.

20th Circuit Presiding Judge Craig E. Hellmann handed down the sentence, along with a life-in-prison term for the first-degree assault in the severe wounding of Hermann Patrolman Adam Sullentrup. There were several of other sentences given to Kenneth Lee Simpson, 36, for felony convictions stemming from the Sunday, March 12, 2023, shooting that took place in Casey’s General Store on Market Street. The policemen were trying to take Simpson into custody after learning he had been named in arrest warrants issued by neighboring counties.

Courtroom 302 of the Franklin County Justice Center was packed. A deputy sheriff stationed at the main entrance to the courtroom clicked a hand-held counter to ensure that no more than 155 people — the fire code limit — were in Hellmann’s courtroom. Several of the people on hand for the formal sentencing of the man whose troubles with the law reach back to his younger years while living with his grandparents in a quiet subdivision south of Warrenton included Gasconade County Sheriff Scott Eiler and Major Roger Armstrong, Hermann Police Chief Marlon Walker and Hermann Patrolman Josh Krull, as well as other law enforcement personnel who served alongside Griffith.

There was a heavy presence of Franklin County sheriff’s deputies in the Justice Center, both in the courtroom and in the building’s lobby on the first floor.

The jury of Greene County residents that convicted Simpson in February unanimously recommended the death sentence.

Other sentences handed down by Hellmann includes 15 years for armed criminal action in the shooting of Griffith; 15 years for armed criminal action in the shooting of Sullentrup; 20 years for two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm; 10 years for unlawful possession of an illegal weapon; seven years for possession of a controlled substance; seven years for resisting/interfering with an arrest for a felony.

Simpson’s prosecution was handled by a team of assistants in the Missouri Attorney General’s Office; his defense was handled by the Missouri Public Defender’s Office.

Attorney General Catherine Hanaway issued a statement after the formal sentence had been handed down.

“Today, Judge Hellmann acted on the jury’s verdict and delivered a death sentence. While this sentence ensures the perpetrator is held accountable for their heinous crimes, nothing will ever replace the tragic loss of life. Our office honors the sacrifice of Detective Sgt. Griffith, and commends to the highest regard Officer Sullentrup for putting his life on the line to protect his community. We continue to pray for their families and loved ones whose lives remain ever changed. I am proud of our team’s diligent efforts and meticulous preparation in this case, and we remain committed to supporting all law enforcement officers who work tirelessly to keep Missouri safe,” she said.

With the formal sentencing, Simpson becomes an inmate of the Missouri Department of Corrections and no longer the responsibility of Gasconade County. He has spent the past two years housed in the Franklin County Jail, transferred there from the Crawford County Jail when his case was moved to Franklin County on a change of venue.

The last item of business regarding this case for Gasconade County government is to receive the final bill for the cost of prosecuting Simpson. Because the case originated in Gasconade County, it is this county’s responsibility for meeting the expenses of the case. That includes the cost of jury selection in Greene County,which involved 1,000 residents of that county being called for jury duty. According to a letter from the Washington law firm acting as the Franklin County counselor to the Gasconade County Commission, Franklin will first pay the bills associated with the case and then request reimbursement from Gasconade County.