Former Highway Patrol Trooper Facing New Charges In Christian County:

Kenny Lynn Dean newest mug shot (CCSO)

A former Highway Patrol Trooper who was sentenced to five years probation after pleading guilty to  domestic assault on February 18th is facing new charges in Christian County.

Prosecutors have charged Kenny Lynn Dean with burglary following a high speed chase on Tuesday that began in Nixa and ended in Ozark.

Detective Jason Hartsell with the Nixa police department says they received a phone call from a family member of Dean's estranged wife Tracy saying the were concerned for her well being.

As police officers arrived at the woman's home (who had an active protection order against Dean) they found her running to a neighbor's house to call for help after she was allegedly held against her will for at least 24 hours by Kenny Dean.  Officers attempted to apprehend Dean, who fled in a vehicle, "But he wasn't havin' any part of that and sped up," according to Hartsell.

Dean's former colleagues were called in to assist in the chase as was the Ozark police department.  That chase ended at 2405 W. Westwind Drive in Ozark after his car was disabled by spike strips.  Dean then bailed out of his vehicle and attempted to steal a pickup truck parked in the driveway.  Unsuccessful, he ran into the open garage of strangers and picked up a large metal object and assaulted Trooper Scott Rice and Ozark police officer Tim Fielden.

In February of 2009 prosecutors in Stone County charged Dean with first-degree domestic assault, second-degree felonious restraint and second-degree domestic assault for an incident that left Tracy Dean with bleeding on her brain and a fractured wrist.

Dean, who was assigned to Troop D (southwest Missouri) from January of '01 to March of '04, was charged last June with kidnapping, burglary and assaulting Tracy Dean in Christian County.  Those charges were amended to second degree domestic assault which he pleaded guilty to last week.

In July he was charged with defrauding a secured creditor in Christian County and last month he was charged with theft for allegedly stealing a flatbed trailer from his ex business partner in December.

Christian County chief assistant prosecutor Donovan Dobbs says they are waiting on additional reports from Nixa and Ozark and anticipate filing additional charges that could include assault of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and attempting to flee.  Dobbs says they will ask a judge to revoke his probation.

One of Dean's former wife's says she's concerned that he will kill Tracy Dean, their children and will commit suicide by cop if he is let out on bond.

Dean is currently being held without bond in the Christian County jail.

Deputy Field Marshal For Best Buy's Geek Squad Charged With Possessing Child Porn:

Jerry Lee Thurman II (mug shot CCSO)

One of the leading Geek Squad agents in southwest Missouri has been charged in two counties with possession of child pornography.

Following an undercover investigation by the Southwest Missouri Cyber Crime Task Force
Jerry Lee Thurman II, 37, of Ozark was charged in Christian County with having more than 20 still images of child pornography, consisting of pre-pubescent children engaged in sexual poses and/or acts as well as posing nude, and one video containing kiddie porn on two computers in his home.

Christian County chief assistant prosecuting attorney Donovan Dobbs says Thurman is also facing charges in Barry County of promoting child pornography with the intent to distribute obscene material with children under the age of 14.

According to court records, On November 7th an undercover officer with the Cyber Crimes Task Force discovered a person believed to be in the Ozark area sharing a large amount of known and suspected child pornography."

Authorities subpoenaed the Internet Service Provider and identified the user as Jerry Thurman.

On December 6th officers obtained a search warrant and on Dec. 7 officers seized two computers from Thurman’s home containing “20 still images and one movie...that depicted most pre-pubescent children engaged in sexual poses and/or acts.”

According to the probable cause statement filed with the charges, "Thurman admitted that he had downloaded images and movies containing child pornography and he moved files from one computer to another consistent with what officers located during the search."

Authorities say further examination of Thurman's computers “will be accomplished as soon as practical.”

Thurman is currently in Christian County Jail on a $25,000 bond. He is facing 5 to 15 years in prison if convicted of the charges.