Metz man facing a dozen court charges fires attorney

Facing 12 charges involving illegal hunting activity and receiving stolen property, a Vernon County man fired his attorney with a plea bargain already on the table.

Brian Barnett, 31, Metz, is facing 11 class A misdemeanors and one class C felony for his alleged role in the illegal hunting, tagging, transporting, labeling, possession and checking of several deer, failing to yield to an emergency vehicle, possessing marijuana and the theft of $1,000 worth of aluminum irrigation pipe.

According to court documents, on Nov. 14, Missouri Conservation Agent Shawn Pennington reported witnessing Barnett, along with a second party, Chris Moore, 38, Kansas City, spotlighting and shooting deer from a public Vernon County road.

When Pennington attempted to stop the two individuals, they reportedly fled the scene on foot.

The report states that Pennington located Moore on Nov. 15 and discovered he was with Barnett the previous night illegally spotlighting. Moore confirmed that Barnett killed two deer and did not tag or check either animal, then transported them to a shed next to his home.

After obtaining a search warrant, Pennington searched Barnett's home and a neighboring shed, discovering several illegally harvested deer and other wildlife and stored wildlife --some of which he reports was intentionally hidden.

Barnett also allegedly reported to Pennington that he killed one buck and one doe without tagging or checking either of the animals. Instead, he brought the items to his home and used his wife's hunting tags. During the interview, Barnett admitted to owning two firearms, a 30-06 and 12-gauge shotgun. He reportedly told Pennington that he was aware it was illegal to own a firearm with his past felony record. He was also found to be in possession of less than 35 grams of marijuana.

Barnett is also facing a felony count of receiving stolen property for his part in the theft of aluminum irrigation line.

On April 7, a fellow Metz resident reported about $1,000 worth of irrigation line missing from his property. After reportedly contacting Young's Iron and Metal in Nevada, the victim learned that six pieces of pipes matching those he was missing had been sold to the salvage yard. Vernon County Sheriff's Deputy John Randall reported that he visited Young's with photographs of Barnett and a second person.

Troy Young was able to identify both suspects as the ones who brought the stolen metal in for sale.

Barnett has been represented since his arrest in November by Harold Caskey. On Wednesday, Feb. 13, Associate Circuit Court Judge Neal Quitno accepted Caskey's request to withdraw from the case after Barnett announced he no longer required the attorney's services.

Vernon County Prosecut-ing Attorney Lynn Ewing III reported after the trial yesterday that he had been working with Caskey on what he felt was a good and fair plea bargain arrangement for Barnett. However, Ewing stated that he will not offer the same bargain to Barnett's new attorney. He said, when an attorney puts in the work and hours to arrange a plea bargain, it is only fair to offer that bargain strictly to them. Ewing stated that Barnett's new attorney will have to start from scratch if he does not want to make an arrangement and keep the case from being tried.

Moore, the second party involved, pleaded guilty to three illegal hunting charges for his role in the same incident and received two years probation on Dec. 3, 2007.

Barnett's preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for March 20, at which time he is expected to have a new attorney.