3 charged in Central High break-in

A police investigation has led to the arrests of three suspects in an April 4 break-in at Central High School.

The Buchanan County prosecutor's office charged Jeremy Hayden, 20; Courtney Kline, 22; and Justin M. Hughes, 19, with felony counts of second-degree burglary in connection with the incident. Police previously said that electronic equipment and other items were taken during the burglary.

Capt. Kevin Castle, a police spokesman, said other suspects may be involved in the case, which is still being investigated.

Associate Circuit Judge Keith Marquart set bail for Mr. Hayden and Mr. Hughes at $7,500 each. Mr. Marquart plans to arraign Mr. Hayden and Mr. Hughes today.

Mr. Kline will be arraigned at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. The bail for Mr. Kline hadn't been posted Thursday.

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Woman sentenced to jail, must pay restitution

PLATTE CITY, Mo. - A former employee of the Platte County collector's office was ordered Thursday to repay more than $55,000 in stolen tax payments and spend 90 days in jail after pleading guilty to felony stealing and tampering with a public record.

Barbara K. Milton, 30, of Parkville, received the sentence when prosecutors sought the maximum amount of shock jail time allowed of 120 days - along with five years' probation, said Prosecutor Eric Zahnd.

Ms. Milton admitted to stealing cash payments made at the Platte County collector's south annex starting in May or June of 2008. She also confessed to altering computer records involving cash payments as a way of concealing her theft. She used the money to gamble at Kansas City-area casinos.

Under Missouri law, defendants sentenced to state prison for stealing cannot be required to repay what they stole. Mr. Zahnd said he believed it was important that the defendant repay the money she stole, so he opted for time spent in the Platte County Jail and the restitution.

Ms. Milton paid $19,000 at the time of her guilty plea. She will also pay $600 a month in restitution during her probation. She agreed not to enter any gambling establishments.

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Man admits role in robberies

A St. Joseph man admitted Thursday to driving other men to commit armed robberies in St. Joseph shopping centers.

Thomas Rathmann, 18, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree robbery and one misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property, a cell phone.

Mr. Rathmann told Buchanan County Judge Dan Kellogg that he knowingly drove Michael Gray to rob CD Tradepost on Jan. 21 and Radio Shack on Jan. 23. Mr. Gray allegedly robbed the stores with a handgun, wearing a ski mask and gloves. Mr. Rathmann also said he drove Paul Boyle to Sally's Beauty Supply to plan for a third robbery.

Mr. Rathmann will be sentenced on June 18 and faces up to 30 years in prison on each robbery charge. Cases are still pending against three co-defendants: Mr. Gray on two counts of robbery; Mr. Boyle on one count of robbery; and Megan Gay on one count of accessory to robbery.

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Arrest alleges sexual misconduct

MARYVILLE, Mo. - A 43-year-old Nodaway County man was arrested Wednesday on an active Boone County warrant that alleges attempted sexual misconduct.

Ricky Lynn Cochran, Maryville, was arrested by the Maryville Department of Public Safety as the result of a Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force investigation. The Boone County prosecuting attorney's office has filed two counts of attempted sexual misconduct involving a child under 15.

The task force said the investigation began in late February, when Mr. Cochran contacted who he believed to be a 14-year-old Columbia girl over the Internet. The "girl" was actually a task force detective posing as a child. During multiple Internet conversations, Mr. Cochran reportedly exposed himself to the child over a webcam.

Mr. Cochran was released from the Nodaway County Jail after posting a $20,000 bond.

Compiled by Marshall White, who can be reached at marshall@npgco.com, Ray Scherer, who can be reached at rscherer@npgco.com, and Joe Blumberg, who can be reached at joeblumberg@npgco.com.