Latest news with #RowanFord
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Missouri lawmakers push back against public defender's hiring decision
MISSOURI (KSNF/KODE) — Another change is made to one state agency's hiring policies, in an effort to satisfy Missouri lawmakers who control the agency's purse strings. The Missouri State Public Defender's Commission met today to discuss its hiring policies after its budget was threatened last week. Missouri State Public Defender and Commission Chair meet to address issues surrounding David Spears This comes after a scathing rebuke from lawmakers during a budget committee meeting that ended with two representatives walking out – and the director fighting back tears. MSPD director, Mary Fox, did not even get a chance to present the agency's budget before lawmakers took her to task on the hiring and continued employment of David Spears. Spears, as we've been telling you since December, was convicted of child endangerment and hindering prosecution in the 2007 death of his 9-year-old stepdaughter Rowan Ford. Legislators outraged by hiring practices by Missouri public defender's office He has been employed with the Public Defender's Office since 2016, about a year after he was released from prison. Employment of David Spears causes committee to refuse agency's budget requests Lawmakers refused to hear the agency's budget presentation and said that as long as Spears works for them, they would vote no on the budget. House Republican leadership issued a statement today (below) saying they stand by the budget committee's actions last week. 'The continued employment of David Spears within the Missouri State Public Defender's Office is a serious lapse in judgment that undermines public trust in our institutions. While we believe in second chances, there are clear and reasonable limits—especially when it comes to those who have pled guilty to hindering the prosecution of a heinous crime like the murder of Rowan Ford. We fully support Representative Dirk Deaton and the members of the House Budget Committee in their efforts to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used responsibly and in a way that reflects the values and expectations of Missourians. We stand with our colleagues in calling for the Public Defender's Office to rectify this situation immediately. If they fail to do so, we support any and all measures, including the rejection of their budget request, to hold them accountable. Justice for Rowan Ford and her family must come first.' Statement issued by house Republican leadership. After a three hour executive session the commissioners announced an additional change in the language they set out last month. Director Fox said today's change is based on language proposed by Representative Lane Roberts (R-Joplin) earlier this week when they met with Chairman Charles Atwell. Commissioners agreed to add the following language to the hiring process: 'If the director and chair disagree on whether a final offer of employment should be made, because of the plea of guilty or conviction of a felony offense, the question shall be posed to the public defender commission, and the decision shall be based on the vote of the majority of the commission.' Fox also added the following language that she said did not substantially alter Rep. Roberts' request: 'The director shall retain the right to not make any final offer of employment, even if the commission provides authorization. So if after the meeting with the commission, the director comes across some other information that makes them believe a final offer of employment should not be made that would keep them from having to go back to the commission another time.' The commission made no mention of the Budget Committee's demand that Spears be 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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.
