Missouri lawmakers walk out over public defender hiring controversy
(KSNF/KODE) — Several members of the Missouri House Budget Committee Thursday walked out of a hearing with the Public Defender's Office.
The issue—the employment of a man connected to the death of a little girl 18 years ago.
Employment of David Spears causes committee to refuse agency's budget requests
'Where is the justice for Rowan Ford in this?'
State Representative Lane Roberts says that's the central issue.
'It's about justice for a little girl,' said Roberts.
Thursday, Missouri Public Defender Director Mary Fox made her agency's annual funding request to the Missouri House Budget Committee—but the conversation quickly changed.
'I do have a couple of questions before we get started here,' said State Representative Dirk Deaton, R-Senec
Those questions centered around the employment of David Spears—who pleaded guilty to hindering prosecution and endangering the welfare of a child for his role in the 2007 abduction, rape, and murder of nine-year-old Rowan Ford.
Changes made to hiring policy in public defender's office, inspired by Spears controversy
'Is Mr. Spears still today, currently employed with the Missouri State Public Defenders?'
'He is,' said Fox.
An investigation by our station discovered Spears was first hired by the Public Defender's Office in 2016—and then again in 2020.
A letter—signed by Roberts, Deaton, and several other state representatives—called on the Public Defenders Commission to revise hiring policies and fire Spears.
Fox told the committee those hiring policies have changed—but as for Spears—the commission doesn't believe it has the authority to terminate.
'Let me ask you this; is there anyone at the Public Defenders Office that can terminate an employee?' asked Deaton.
Controversy leads to review of public defender's hiring policy
'Certainly. I can terminate an employee, and I would terminate an employee if their performance was not successful,' said Fox.
The committee expressed outrage at Spears' employment.
'At a minimum, his actions led directly to the rape and murder of this girl. At a minimum. I don't think anyone questions that,' said Deaton.
Some committee members said they wouldn't hear any budget request from the Public Defender's Office.
'I am not going to sit and listen to you because I'm disgusted,' said State Representative Raychel Proudie, D-Ferguson.
'I have the deepest respect for the director, but they're trying to defend something that's not defensible,' said Roberts.
Roberts says this isn't about the legislature, the Public Defender's Office, or even Spears.
'He's got a job today because of what he did. He's got a paycheck, he's got benefits, and he's got a future, which Rowan Ford does not, because she's dead.'
Legislators outraged by hiring practices by Missouri public defender's office
It's about justice for Rowan Ford.
'And that the stepfather who betrayed her should be getting paid by public tax dollars—tax dollars paid by her mother, and her extended family, and her classmates, and her teachers, and police officers. The idea that in any way they should have to help support the man that betrayed her is repulsive,' said Roberts.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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