BEAT BYTE: Criminals Swamp Benton-Stephens 8-Plex

1411 Wilkes

COLUMBIA, 2/9/09 (Beat Byte) -- For one of the most stunning examples yet of how repeat offenders return home to commit crime after crime, again and again, look no farther than 1411 Wilkes Blvd., a small apartment building in the Benton-Stephens area.

With nearly five dozen resident arrests for a long list of major offenses during the last decade, the history of violence at 1411 Wilkes Blvd. exploded Jan. 25 in a SWAT bust that netted allegedly stolen computers and weighing scales for illegal drugs.

At the property itself, "we've had six police reports since Nov. 16 and three other reports for the rest of 2008," said Columbia police officer and crime free programs coordinator Tim Thomason. In 2007, four reports of crime on the premises brought the owners a chronic nuisance property warning from Thomason's office. Past years brought several warning letters to the owners about illegal drug activity. But those warnings don't include what residents do off the premises.

Owners Gregg and Amy Morgan purchased the eight-unit complex in March 2005 with help from a $602,000 mortgage from First National Bank (FNB) of Columbia. The mortgage, which includes another property, was refinanced at FNB in 2008 for $770,000, according to public records on file with Boone County. The Morgans and FNB then consolidated the note last December with several other properties for $1,520,000.

With former Emery Sapp and Sons VP Roland Bartels, Gregg Morgan also owns a chain of Tiger Car Washes and the Briarcrest Apartments at 105 N. Garth. He did not return a telephone call for comment.

In the four years since the Morgans purchased the Wilkes eight-plex, authorities have made 30 resident arrests, or an average 7 arrests per year, nearly one every other month. Apartment residents have also endured two fires.

In the seven years prior to 2005, authorities made 25 arrests, including 26-year-old resident Robert J. Barney, who murdered 20 year old Deandre Terry in the first homicide of 2005, critically injuring another man. In a terrible irony, when police went to arrest Barney at his grandparents' home, his grandmother Ora May collapsed and died of a heart attack. Barney, who wasn't there, surrendered on hearing the news.

The long history of chronic offenders who've taken up residence at 1411 Wilkes is striking: Frank Sherrell Butler, arrested six times for drug trafficking, assault, and parole violations; Kenneth Eugene Butler, arrested seven times for assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and armed criminal action; Buffy Nichols-Kramer, arrested five times while hiding out from various out-of-county warrants; Natasha Deeanne Hunter, arrested five times, for property damage, trespassing, and parole violations.

In many cases, the offenders posted bond and the courts released them, only to see them re-arrested for more serious offenses. In several other cases, service of out-of-county warrants makes 1411 Wilkes look like a hideout, for crooks on the run from the law.

Property owners like the Morgans can and should get involved, Thomason notes. "It's the same old story, screening tenants, active property management, knowing who is really staying on your property, and taking action when you can no matter how small the issue."


2) Resident Rap Sheet, 1411 Wilkes Blvd., Columbia, Missouri

Kendra Renee McClain, 23, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., Apt. A, possession of under 35 grams of marijuana, first-degree trespassing, $785 bond.
Kendra Renee McClain, 26, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., assault, no bond set.

Tamara Nicco Butler, 27, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., failure to appear in court, $500 bond.
Tamara Nicco Butler, 27, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., failure to appear in court

Frank Shurell Butler, 26, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., Apt. C, second-degree domestic assault, two counts third-degree assault, resisting arrest, $6,500 bond.
Frank Shurell Butler, 26, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., Apt. C, third-degree domestic assault, $1,000 bond.
Frank Shurell Butler, 29, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., first-degree trafficking, escape from custody, distribution, manufacture or possession of a controlled substance, $4,500 bond.
Frank Shurell Butler, 29, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., possession of less than 35 grams of marijuana, no bond set.
Frank Shurell Butler, 29, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., probation-and-parole violation, $1,000 bond.
Frank Shurell Butler, 29, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., resisting arrest, second-degree trafficking, $4,500 bond

Wernester Barney, 18, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., Apt. B, failure to appear in court, $1,000 bond.
Wernester Barney, 18, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., Apt. B, failure to follow judge’s orders, no bond set.

Mancel Lee French, 44, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., driving while under revocation,
second offense of driving while intoxicated, $1,012 bond.
Mancel Lee French, 53, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., two counts of use or possession of drug paraphernalia, no bond set.

Marcus Phillip French, 30, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., driving while intoxicated.
Marcus Phillip French, 30, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., use or possession of drug paraphernalia, no bond set.

Darnell Tomani Wilder, 31, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., out-of-county warrant, failure to appear in court, $1,186 bond.
Darnell Tomani Wilder, 32, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., out-of-county warrant, $447 bond.
Darnell Tomani Wilder, 33, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., out-of-county warrant, failure to appear in court, $1,022 bond.
Darnell Tomani Wilder, 32, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., out-of-county warrant, failure to appear in court, $852 bond.

Kenneth Eugene Butler, 42, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., taken into custody due to incapacitated state.
Kenneth Eugene Butler, 42, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., third-degree domestic assault, $1,000 bond.
Kenneth Eugene Butler, 42, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., Apt. C, unlawful use of weapon, third-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action, second-degree domestic assault, $13,500 bond.
Kenneth Eugene Butler, 42, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., armed criminal action, second-degree domestic assault, unlawful use of weapons.
Kenneth Eugene Butler, 42, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., open container.
Kenneth Eugene Butler, 38, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., failure to appear in court, $284.50 bond.
Kenneth Eugene Butler, 40, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., third-degree domestic assault, $1,000 bond.

Buffy E. Nichols-Kramer, 29, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., out-of-county warrants, $7,029.88 bond.
Buffy Elizabeth Nichols-Kramer, 30, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd. Apt. F, three out-of-county warrants, $4,404.88 bond.
Buffy Elizabeth Nichols-Kramer, 30, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., Apt. F, fugitive from justice, no bond set.
Buffy E. Nichols-Kramer, 30, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., misdemeanor warrant
Buffy Elizabeth Nichols-Kramer, 30, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., Apt. F, deceiving police, out-of-county warrants, $4,913.88 bond.

Natasha Deeanne Hunter, 29, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., probation and parole violation, no bond set.
Natasha Deeanne Hunter, 29, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., bond revocation, $2,500 bond.
Natasha Deeanne Hunter, 29, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., second-degree property damage, first-degree trespassing, failure to appear in court, deceiving police officer, $6,500 bond.
Natasha D. Hunter, 29, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., first-degree trespassing.
Natasha D. Hunter, 29, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., out-of-county warrant.

Paul Vernon Thompson, 29, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., third-degree domestic assault, $1,000.
Paul Vernon Thompson, 30, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., second-degree domestic assault, $4,500 bond.

Phillip Lee Washington, 30, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., third-degree assault, $1,000 bond.
Shawn Phillip Ericson, 17, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd, Apt. D, driving while intoxicated, $300 bond.
Kenneth Terry, 38, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., two out-of-county warrants, $750 bond.
Tasha Marie Willingham, 21, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., third-degree assault, $500 bond.
Jeffrey Alan Richardson, 30, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., possession with the intent to distribute, use/possession of drug paraphernalia, $5,500 bond.
Bethany Carol Harris, 18, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., stealing.
Timothy Lamont Brown, 33, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., out-of-county warrant, $10,000 bond.
Nolan Brian Mosier, 24, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd, trespassing, receiving stolen property, $582.50 bond.
Lisa Dena Cheatom, 41, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., assault.
Stephanie Elizabeth Houghton, 30, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., second-degree tampering, $500 bond.
Timothy Lamont Brown, 33, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., passing bad checks, $4,500 bond.
Wiley Austin Branton, 22, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., Apt. E, driving while intoxicated, possession of 35 grams or less of marijuana, $1,000 bond.
Travis Duane Butler, 25, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., first-degree trespassing.
Rodney Kintia Oliver, 31, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd., three counts of failure to appear in court, possession of a controlled substance, $101,250 bond.
Tyrell Ramone Johnson, 22, of 1411 Wilkes Blvd. Apt. H, out-of-county warrant, $250 bond.


3) News Stories about 1411 Wilkes from the Tribune/Missourian
(click title for story)

Stolen goods search turns up computer

SWAT search turns up possible stolen property, drug paraphernalia

Civil rights leader’s grandson arrested

Apartment fire cause under investigation

Cooking oil on stove blamed in Wilkes fire

Motorist leads cops into brush: Stolen SUV yields 5 people arrested

Apartment blaze

Alleged killer ends search by surrender: Barney gives up after grandmother dies

Man dies in knife attack: Police search for 26-year-old suspect