4 years, 11 months ago by Scott Hardy
Judge Tom Redington rules that Robert Becker didn't violate probation
A former northeast Missouri sheriff, forced to resign last fall after pleading Guilty to two counts, will remain on probation, after a ruling Wednesday by a Knox County judge.
Records show that on Wednesday, Judge Tom Redington ruled that former Knox County Sheriff Robert Becker did not violate his probation. He received that sentence in mid-December after pleading Guilty to misdemeanor Assault and Abuse charges. If his probation had been revoked, Becker would have served a two-year prison sentence.The Missouri State Attorney General's office wanted Becker's five year probation revoked, after he was charged in late December on misdemeanor hunting and weapon charges. Redington ruled that because Becker's feet weren't on a street when he used a firearm in late December, he didn't violate the law. Becker was in Knox County Circuit Court Wednesday for a hearing on the new charges. That was delayed to June 11th. He's charged with Taking Wildlife Illegally and Unlawful Use of a Weapon by firing it along a road. According to court documents, two Missouri conservation agents interviewed Becker, after a resident reported seeing him fire a weapon while standing along Tomahawk Street, west of Knox County Route E, when Becker was hunting with his brother and son.
Investigators say the new charges allegedly happened the day after Christmas, exactly one week after his guilty pleas in the other case.
