Kirksville Man Convicted of Stealing in Lewis County

The Lewis County Prosecutor’s Office announces that on August 23, 2018, a Lewis County jury found David A. Barnes, 37, of Kirksville, Missouri, guilty of felony stealing.

During the one day trial, Corey R. Moon, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for Lewis County, presented evidence on behalf of the State. Mr. Barnes was convicted of stealing a Chevrolet Cavalier from the driveway of a residence outside of La Grange, Missouri on or about January 25, 2017. Mr. Barnes was found to be a persistent felony offender by the Honorable Russell E. Steele, who presided over the trial, meaning Barnes will face an enhanced punishment.

“I was very pleased with this result. The defendant deprived the victim of his mode of transportation to get to work. We shouldn’t live in a community where we fear having our property taken. Because the defendant was charged as and found to be a prior and persistent felony offender, he will now face a maximum of ten years in prison instead of seven,” Moon said.

The case was investigated by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, who was assisted by the La Grange Police Department, Kirksville Police Department, and the Hannibal Police Department.

Barnes is currently facing trial on similar charges in Marion and Monroe counties for acts that occurred around the same time period as the Lewis County incident. He will be sentenced in the Lewis County case on October 4, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. at the Lewis County Courthouse in Monticello.