From Ripley County Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Michel:
Ripley County Prosecuting Attorney, Matthew Michel, announces that on October 23, 2026, Michael L. Barton, 60, of Doniphan, Missouri pleaded guilty to two class D felonies involving stolen property belonging to Ripley County.
According to the Ripley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Barton pleaded guilty to the class D felony of Receiving Stolen Property for retaining stolen radios and tasers valued at $750.00. Barton also pleaded guilty to the class D felony of Stealing a Motor Vehicle, for appropriating a 2012 Chevrolet Impala, which property was donated to Ripley County by the Butler County Sheriff’s Department.
During the investigation, authorities located a box containing radios and tasers belonging to the Ripley County Sheriff’s Department at Barton’s residence. Additionally, the Butler County Sheriff’s Department provided an official letter confirming that, during the summer of 2023, they agreed to sell a 2012 Chevrolet Impala to the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office but subsequently decided to donate the vehicle instead. However, a subsequent title history search revealed that the vehicle’s title had been issued to Mike Barton later that same year. Investigators also determined that the vehicle had been listed on Barton’s personal property tax records.
Barton entered his guilty pleas without a sentencing recommendation from the Prosecuting Attorney. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, December 10, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. in the secondary courtroom of the Ripley County Courthouse. During the hearing the prosecution and defense will have the opportunity to present arguments regarding the appropriate sentence before the Honorable Judge Robert David Ray. Each class D felony carries a range of punishment of one to seven years of imprisonment the Missouri Department of Corrections, a term of confinement in the county jail for up to one year, a fine of up to $10,000.00, or a combination of both fine and imprisonment as authorized by Missouri law. No sentence has been imposed at this time.
