Missouri bill cracks down on 'organized retail theft'
A proposed Missouri law recently heard in the state senate suggests cracking down on organized retail theft from businesses, a growing concern in St. Joseph and nationwide.
HB 277, sponsored by Missouri House of Representatives Rep. Lane Roberts (R-Joplin) creates a new defense within state legislature to deter retail theft.
Language in the proposed legislation states if the amount stolen in 120 days is between $1,500 and $10,000, the crime becomes a class C felony and if the value is over $10,000, it becomes a class B felony.
"In this case, you have an agreement among several people to engage in this,' Roberts said. 'The head of a group will send four or five different people to various locations to commit a theft, but this bill will make everyone a part of the agreement and everyone responsible for the conduct to be charged with the aggregated amount.'
Roberts added that organized crime is a growing issue statewide which is landing business owners in a tough financial situation.
'They'll steal property then sell it online or will bring it back for an exchange for the money,' Roberts explained. 'That's the sort of conduct that ultimately costs the retailer, which drives and pushes the price up for the rest of us. This is an effort to try and better the livelihoods of everyone.'
The bill additionally applies to anyone who commits the offense of organized retail theft if they attempt to return the merchandise to the merchant for value or resells, trades, or if they barter the merchandise for value in any manner, including, but not limited to, through the use of an internet or network site.
For smaller law enforcement agencies such as the St. Joseph Police Department, prosecuting these cases can be complex and time-consuming. With a full plate of responsibilities, SJPD struggles to keep up with the increasing number of retail thefts.
'We do as much as we can to try and catch these incidents as they're in progress,' said SJPD Sergeant Jeremy Peters. 'So having this bill is a good thing. Any time we get a little bit more help on the law enforcement side, where we have some repeat offenders or people that are doing this on an organized level, that's a step in the right direction. There needs to be tougher penalties for people that are victimizing others.'
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One deputy told Roberts to "walk like a lady" before grabbing her to remove her from the room, footage shows. "Do you have a daughter?" Roberts asked a deputy as he approached her. Moments later, four deputies surrounded Roberts and pushed her out of the chambers. Several councilors said after the incident they were disturbed by Roberts' removal and took issue with Osili's strict adherence to the time limit for public comments, considering the severity of Roberts' allegations. "I've never seen anybody taken out like that," said longtime Democrat Frank Mascari, who was first elected in 2011. "I really feel terrible she was taken out that way." Democrat Jared Evans said he was "disgusted at what just transpired." "This is a local issue that people are protesting," Evans said. "Why they are speaking is because they have not had an outlet with which to speak to this council." 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"Public trust is a sacred obligation continuously earned through principled moral leadership and responsible governance," the statement from the council's Democratic caucus said. "The mayor's past and recent conduct has compromised that trust and weakened the moral authority of the office. His actions are inconsistent with the ethical expectations we hold for ourselves and one another as stewards of this great city's future." 'We won't allow facts to be buried': Hogsett investigative report omissions raise concerns, Republicans call for additional details An outside law firm's investigative report, presented to the City-County Council's investigative committee May 29, found that Hogsett's administration acted within the law during investigations of Cook's alleged misconduct. Three women told IndyStar that Cook sexually harassed them while he was their supervisor, and one said that Cook sexually assaulted her. 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Megan Alderman, a north side resident who also believes Hogsett should resign, said the mayor's texts asking if Roberts' boyfriend knew how "feisty" she is sent a chill down her spine. The messages remind her of past instances of sexual harassment she says she has experienced. "There was something so inappropriate, something so deeply wrong," Alderman said. Lawrence City Councilor Kristie Krone, who campaigned for Hogsett in 2023 before learning of the allegations against Cook, said the mayor should have pushed out his top aide as soon as an internal 2020 investigation discovered his alleged misconduct. Now, she said, Hogsett should resign so the city can work to restore its ethical standards. "It's not just politics. It's not just stupid stuff that goes on at work that you talk about at the water cooler," Krone said. "You are the leader of our city and you work for us. He's got to understand that the decisions that he makes (reflect on) who we are as a city." Email IndyStar Reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@ Follow him on X: @jordantsmith09 This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Woman alleging sexual harassment by Hogsett aide dragged out of council meeting
Indianapolis Star
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Woman accusing Hogsett aide of sexual harassment dragged out of Indianapolis council meeting
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The encounter overshadowed a meeting where the council ultimately voted not to approve the final payment to the law firm responsible for investigating the Hogsett administration's handling of the alleged abuse. Many councilors are questioning why the final report omitted mentions of late-night texts and messages that the mayor sent Roberts and another woman whose complaints launched the investigation. Roberts is one of two women who alleges she was sexually harassed or assaulted by top Hogsett aide Thomas Cook and received messages from the mayor that she said made her uncomfortable. Video captured at the meeting by reporters also depicts two sheriff's deputies pushing back Roberts' supporters, including Democratic strategist Elise Shrock, who can be heard telling a deputy to stop touching her breasts as he tries to remove her and others from the meeting who surrounded Roberts to protect her. One deputy told Roberts to "walk like a lady" before grabbing her to remove her from the room. "Do you have a daughter?" Roberts asked the deputy as he approached her. Moments later, four deputies surrounded Roberts and pushed her out of the chambers. Several councilors said after the incident they were disturbed by Roberts' removal and took issue with Osili's strict adherence to the time limit for public comments, considering the severity of Roberts' allegations. "I've never seen anybody taken out like that," said longtime Democrat Frank Mascari, who was first elected in 2011. "I really feel terrible she was taken out that way." Democrat Jared Evans said he was "disgusted at what just transpired." "This is a local issue that people are protesting," Evans said. "Why they are speaking is because they have not had an outlet with which to speak to this council." Just before the meeting, council Democrats released a statement criticizing Hogsett's leadership and calling for several reforms, including dissolving the city's human resources department and appointing an inspector-general. But the Democratic caucus of 18 members stopped short of saying Hogsett should resign, a belief voiced by two councilors — Democrat Andrew Nielsen and Democratic socialist Jesse Brown — and dozens of people who attended the June 9 council meeting. "Public trust is a sacred obligation continuously earned through principled moral leadership and responsible governance," the statement from the council's Democratic caucus said. "The mayor's past and recent conduct has compromised that trust and weakened the moral authority of the office. His actions are inconsistent with the ethical expectations we hold for ourselves and one another as stewards of this great city's future." 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Wearing a white T-shirt with the words "Bye Hogsett" drawn with black marker, near east side resident Brianna Dines said she's believed the mayor should resign since IndyStar first reported the allegations against Cook in July 2024. Megan Alderman, a north side resident who also believes Hogsett should resign, said the mayor's texts asking if Roberts' boyfriend knew how "feisty" she is sent a chill down her spine. The messages remind her of past instances of sexual harassment she says she has experienced. "There was something so inappropriate, something so deeply wrong," Alderman said. Lawrence City Councilor Kristine Krone, who campaigned for Hogsett in 2023 before learning of the allegations against Cook, said the mayor should have pushed out his top aide as soon as an internal 2020 investigation discovered his alleged misconduct. Now, she said, Hogsett should resign so the city can work to restore its ethical standards. "It's not just politics. It's not just stupid stuff that goes on at work that you talk about at the water cooler," Krone said. "You are the leader of our city and you work for us. He's got to understand that the decisions that he makes (reflect on) who we are as a city."
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'On the heels of our Q4 2024 listing onto NASDAQ, and as we ramp-up activities to launch the DurAVR® THV global, pivotal clinical trial (the "PARADIGM Trial"), we are excited to enhance the leadership team with two highly accomplished, U.S. based, healthcare executives as the company transitions to its next phase of growth. I also wish to extend gratitude to Dr. Gu for his commitment and contributions to the company over the course of his tenure as a member of the Board and wish him well on his future endeavors.' Mr. David Roberts is currently President of LeMaitre Vascular, Inc. (NASDAQ: LMAT), a position he has held since 2007. He joined LeMaitre in 1997 as Vice President of Business Development and was promoted to Chief Financial Officer in 2000. Prior to LeMaitre, Mr. Roberts served as Vice President of Development for BUCA, Inc. from 1994 to 1997, and prior to that as Associate of HarbourVest Partners from 1992 to 1994. Mr. Roberts received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics and History from Brown University and a Master of Business Administration from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Mr. Roberts serves as a director of LeMaitre Vascular, Inc., Lexington Medical, Inc. and Parasole Restaurant Holdings, Inc. Mr. Gregory Moss serves as Chief Business and Legal Officer, as well as Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer of Evommune, Inc. Prior to Evommune, Mr. Moss served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, Chief Compliance Officer at Kadmon, a Sanofi Company, where he led legal, compliance, and business development operations, culminating in Kadmon's $1.9 billion acquisition in 2021. Prior to joining Kadmon in 2012, Mr. Moss served as a solicitor in the corporate risk department of a large Australian law firm and as an associate at a boutique law firm and hedge fund in New York, where he focused on complex litigation and event-driven outcomes. Mr. Moss currently serves on the board of Vitls, Inc. Mr. Moss earned a BA and an LLB from Macquarie University, Australia, and is a member of the Bar Associations of New York, USA, and New South Wales, Australia, with admissions before the Supreme Court of the United States of America; Southern District of New York; Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia; and High Court of Australia. Mr. Roberts and Mr. Moss will help guide Anteris through its next phase of growth, with the upcoming global pivotal PARADIGM study in 3Q2025 towards the ultimate U.S. and EMA licensure of the DurAVR® THV for patients with aortic stenosis. About Anteris Anteris Technologies Global Corp. (NASDAQ: AVR, ASX: AVR) is a global structural heart company committed to designing, developing, and commercializing cutting-edge medical devices to restore healthy heart function. Founded in Australia, with a significant presence in Minneapolis, USA, Anteris is a science-driven company with an experienced team of multidisciplinary professionals delivering restorative solutions to structural heart disease patients. Anteris' lead product, the DurAVR® Transcatheter Heart Valve (THV), was designed in partnership with the world's leading interventional cardiologists and cardiac surgeons to treat aortic stenosis – a potentially life-threatening condition resulting from the narrowing of the aortic valve. The balloon-expandable DurAVR® THV is the first biomimetic valve, which is shaped to mimic the performance of a healthy human aortic valve and aims to replicate normal aortic blood flow. DurAVR® THV is made using a single piece of molded ADAPT® tissue, Anteris' patented anti-calcification tissue technology. ADAPT® tissue, which is FDA-cleared, has been used clinically for over 10 years and distributed for use in over 55,000 patients worldwide. The DurAVR® THV System is comprised of the DurAVR® valve, the ADAPT® tissue, and the balloon-expandable ComASUR® Delivery System. For more information: Investor Relations investor@ OrmsbyAnteris Technologies Global Corp.+61 1300 550 310 | +61 7 3152 3200 Investor Relations (US)mchatterjee@ Chatterjee, Life Science Group+1 917 330 4269WebsiteXFacebookLinkedIn in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
