CAMDEN COUNTY, Mo. — A Camdenton R-III Schools cafeteria employee charged with embezzling more than $125,000 from the district will appear before a new judge for the area, thanks to the state legislature's addition of a third position in a district that badly needed it.
Cassie Franklin, a cafeteria employee, was originally charged in late 2014 with embezzling more then $125,000 from the Camdenton R-III School District. Franklin was set to go to jury trial on April 3, 2017.
But on Sept. 16, 2016, the Court cancelled the April 3 trial date, and Presiding Judge Kenneth Hayden reassigned the matter to the newly created Division III of the Camden Circuit Court. No judge has been appointed to that bench as of yet, but the docket now has a jury trial set for April 13, 2017 in the matter of State v. Cassandra Ann Franklin. This may be the first case assigned to the newly created Division III of the Camden Circuit Court.
The April 3 date was the result of a July 18, 2016 court appearance by Franklin where she, through her attorney, Cody Edwards, requested a continuance which was granted without objection by the State. The court, in granting this request, noted that the defendant waived her right to a speedy trial by making the request for continuance. The defendant stated that she understood the ramifications of such a waiver of her right to a speedy trial.
The State is represented by Special Prosecutor Jon Morris of Laclede County. Camden Prosecuting Attorney Michael Gilley had originally requested a special prosecutor when the charges were filed, because Franklin had been married to Gilley’s cousin at the time of the alleged crime.
The addition of a third judge to the 26th District—which includes Camden, Laclede, Miller, Morgan and Pulaski counties—is expected to help move criminal cases more quickly through a notoriously backlogged justice system.
Following the dismissal by a Cole County Judge of the sexual molestation case against Aaron Fisher, based upon the length of time Fisher’s case took to advance through the 26th Circuit Court, the Missouri Legislature passed a bill creating a third position of Circuit Judge in the 26th. Gov. Jay Nixon signed the bill, but as of this date the governor has not appointed a judge to the bench.
When made, that appointee will serve until an election can be held to permanently fill the position.
