Month: September 2021

Sedalia man pleads guilty in attempted murder for hire case

Man met with undercover BATF agent in KCK

A Sedalia, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court today to attempting to hire an undercover law enforcement agent to murder the victim in a pending statutory sodomy case.

Jon Mark Wilson, 57, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps Jr. to one count of the use of interstate facilities (the use of a cell phone and crossing state lines) in the commission of murder for hire.

By pleading guilty today, Wilson admitted that he paid $2,000 to an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to murder his alleged victim in a separate state case. Wilson has been charged in Pettis County, Missouri, with two counts of felony first degree statutory sodomy in a case that is still pending.

Wilson solicited another person in January 2019 to arrange the murder for him. That person contacted law enforcement authorities and helped arrange a meeting with Wilson and the undercover agent. Wilson agreed to hire the undercover agent to murder the intended victim.

On Jan. 22, 2019, Wilson drove from Sedalia to Kansas City, Kansas, to meet with the undercover agent. Wilson paid the undercover agent $2,000, made arrangements to pay another $5,000 after the murder, and gave him a photo of the intended victim.

Wilson also went into the Cabela’s store and purchased shotgun shells for the undercover agent to use in the murder. When Wilson left the area, he was stopped and arrested by a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper.

Under federal statutes, Wilson is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ashley S. Turner. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Sedalia, Missouri, Police Department.

COVID outbreak traced to Piper High School homecoming dance

A COVID-19 outbreak has been traced to the Piper High School homecoming dance on Sept. 18, according to the Unified Government Health Department.

The Health Department stated today on social media that anyone who attended the dance should get tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible and monitor for symptoms. If they develop any symptoms, they should stay home, according to the Health Department.

COVID symptoms can include fever, cough, shortness of breath, congestion, headaches, body aches, chills, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or loss of taste and smell, according to the Health Department. Symptoms may be mild, and even if the symptoms are mild, individuals should stay home and get tested, according to the Health Department.

In a letter to Piper school officials, Juliann van Liew, Health Department director, stated that anyone at the dance should be tested before being allowed to return to school.

A number of Piper High students attended classes while infectious with COVID following the homecoming dance, according to the Health Department letter.

The Health Department recommended that Piper High students and staff continue to monitor for symptoms of COVID and get promptly tested if symptoms develop, according to the letter.

Any students or staff identified as contacts within the classroom setting by the school nurse should get tested five to seven days after exposure and quarantine, according to the Health Department.

The Health Department also recommended that the district have COVID testing readily available to offer students and staff. The KDHE’s statewide testing plan is available to all school districts free.

Nonprofit group provides homework assistance to children

A nonprofit organization, the Learning Club, is providing tutoring and homework assistance to elementary and middle-school children in Kansas City, Kansas.

As part of the community for almost 20 years, the Learning Club is currently helping local students, especially those who live in public housing areas.

During the past year, students nationally have fallen behind in their academic progress because of the pandemic and virtual learning, according to Sharan Nagra, volunteer coordinator and communications director for the Learning Club.

Especially hard hit during the past year have been minority students, students in poverty and English language learners, especially younger students, she said. Students learning how to read in kindergarten through second grade have experienced the biggest loss nationally.

“The Learning Club is hoping to fill in the gaps and disparities, by providing an after-school program,” she said.

The program sees students twice a week, and they work on their homework during that time, she added. Students read lots of books, helping to increase their fluency and reading comprehension.

The program meets students close to where they live, going to Juniper Gardens, Chalet Manor, St. Margaret apartments, Cyrus K. Holliday apartments and other areas, Nagra said. They also have an in-school reading program, she added.

Currently, about 150 students are in the Learning Club’s after-school program, Nagra said.

Those who work with the students are largely volunteers, and more volunteers are needed, she said.

The program has about 80 high school students who are interns and help tutor the younger children, she said. The high school students also receive help with resume writing, leadership skills and money management skills, she added.

Previous teaching experience is not necessary for the volunteer tutors, she said. They just have to be willing to help kids with homework. Most of the students are in first to fifth grade, with some in sixth and seventh grades, she said.

Volunteers are needed from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. for the after-school program and 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the in-school program, she said.

Students don’t have to pay for tutoring, Nagra said. The Learning Club program is funded through donations and nongovernment grants, she added.

All volunteers are required to have received COVID-19 vaccinations, she said. Everyone has to wear masks during tutoring, she added.

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer tutor may call Nagra at 913-283-4555.