Gasconade County taxpayers could be facing a higher-than-projected cost for the upcoming capital murder trial of a man charged with killing a Hermann policeman and seriously wounding another, thanks to the decision to select a jury from a distant county.

Sheriff Scott Eiler Thursday morning advised the Gasconade County Commission, meeting in Owensville City Hall, that the decision was made to conduct jury selection in Greene County, which includes Springfield. He also noted that two weeks has been set aside for jury selection and that 18 people — 12 jurors and six alternates — would be chosen to hear the case of Kenneth Lee Simpson.

The 35-year-old Warren County man faces nine felony charges in the March 2023 death of Hermann Det. Sgt. Mason Griffith and wounding of Hermann patrolman Adam Sullentrup. The state will be seeking the death penalty with Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey scheduled to be a member of the prosecution’s team.

The decision to select a jury — known as the “voir dire” process — in Greene County and transport them to Union has raised the level of concern about the impact of paying for the trial on Gasconade County’s 2026 operating budget. In early February, Mark Piontek of the Sandberg Phoenix law firm, which serves as the county counselor for Franklin County, informed the Gasconade County Commission of the projected time-frame for the trial and an estimated cost of between $100,000 and $150,000. But that was based on a jury being selected in Franklin County. With a jury being selected in Greene County, the final cost for the Simpson case might be substantially higher.

Because the case was transferred to Franklin County on a change of venue, Franklin County will pay the bill, but will be reimbursed by Gasconade County. Gasconade County Circuit Clerk & Recorder of Deeds Jennifer Schneider Monday morning said whatever the final bill is, it will be paid.

“We’ve already put quite a bit in the budget (for 2026) and if we have to add more we will,” she told the Gasconade County Republican.

Funds for reimbursing Franklin County for the cost of the trial will come out of the Circuit Clerk & Recorder of Deeds Office’s departmental budget.

One concern of the Gasconade County sheriff is whether Greene County will extend the same courtesy that is being shown by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, which is not charging Gasconade County its daily rate for housing Simpson, who was moved to the Franklin County Jail when the case was transferred to that county. Eiler told the County Commission he doesn’t know if Gasconade County will be billed for housing Simpson for the projected two weeks estimated to be needed for selection of a jury.

Presiding Commissioner Tim Schulte, R-Hermann, said the notice given Thursday morning by Eiler makes it even more important that the County Commission speak with 20th Circuit Presiding Judge Craig E. Hellmann about the upcoming trial. Hellmann will preside over the trial, which is scheduled to begin Jan. 20 and possibly continue through Feb. 6.