Attorney For Local Mother Accused Of Child Neglect Argues Facts Have Been Misrepresented

CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. — A local woman accused of neglecting her child to the point of emaciation appeared in court on Tuesday, and her attorney says the situation has been misconstrued up to this point by police and Missouri Child Services.

Jaimie Rose’s defense attorney, Christian Rasmussen, went up against Assistant Prosecuting Attorney (APA) Heather Miller, before Judge Aaron Koeppen. The defense had made a motion to reduce Rose’s bond; she was initially being held without bond allowed. The Court took the matter under advisement, but at the end of the day granted Rose bond in the amount of $75,000 Surety.

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To make his case, Rasmussen argued that the victim in the alleged crime, the biological child of Jaimie Rose, has been placed in the legal custody of Child Services and in the physical custody of Donald Rose, the defendant’s father and biological grandfather of the victim. The defense further argued that the child is in a stable and safe environment and the release on bond would allow Rose to maintain a relationship with her child. Rose would agree to have supervised visits if allowed to be released on bond.

Rasmussen stated there is a lot of misinformation about the actual condition of the child and the weight gains made since the child was put into custody of Child Services.

He also emphasized that Rose had not been uncooperative when authorities first attempted to contact her—contrary to police statements on a court document, which claimed a Missouri Children’s Division case worker told a police officer Rose had been uncooperative after an attempt to meet. According to Rose, she had been out of town and attempted to return the call within minutes of receiving the message.

The defense called maternal grandfather Donald Rose to the stand. Mr. Rose stated he is the father of Jaimie Rose, he currently has physical custody of the infant, and he would supervise any visits if the court allowed release on bond. Upon questioning by the defense, Mr. Rose explained that Jaimie’s child had been a very tiny baby and had always been slightly built.

APA Miller countered by questioning Mr. Rose about Jaimie’s stature during her life, asking if she had always been thin. Mr. Rose answered that she had been. APA Miller brought into evidence a photo of Jaimie Rose from the past when she appeared to be less thin.

Miller also argued that there exists evidence, from witnesses as well as Facebook posts, of drug use by Jaimie Rose. Miller asked how much contact Mr. Rose had maintained with the defendant after she left home. He answered that Jaimie had been away at school at one time and there had been a six-month period without contact. Mr. Rose said recently he had been talking to his daughter a couple of times a month. Upon questioning Mr. Rose stated he had seen the infant victim two or three times since birth.

Miller added the medical record indicated how the infant had responded to feedings at the hospital by energetic eating without any associated problems. The State, through APA Miller, argued that bond should be denied to Rose.

Rasmussen closed by arguing that it was inappropriate to deny bond, as the alleged victim was in a safe place and the defendant will comply with any condition the courts sets upon her release.

There followed some discussion between the attorneys and the judge as to whether Child Services would even recommend or be party to supervised visits between this defendant and the victim. The judge questioned both parties as to their recommendations for amount and condition if he decided to allow bond in this matter.

APA Miller stated that $20,000 would be the recommendation. The judge further explained that if the court granted release on bond, the conditions would be No Alcohol, No Drugs, and third party supervision during visits if they were allowed. The judge further explained he would not order visitation unless the Child Services Division explicitly stated visits would be appropriate in this case.

Judge Koeppen said he wanted to know the position of Child Services as to visitation between this defendant and this victim as this would influence his decision to grant bond and the conditions placed upon that bond.

Jaimie Rose’s next appearance in court is set for November 2, 2016, for Preliminary Hearing.