BELLE — Maries County 25th Circuit Court Judge Kerry G. Rowden on Feb. 13 approved Belle Mayor Daryl White, Jr.’s, motion to change judge. The change of venue to-be-determined.

White appeared in court on Tuesday morning with attorney Thomas John Kirsch, father Daryl White, Sr., Alderman Barb Howarth and Belle Officer Erican Sugg. Alderman Emily Williams was later observed speaking with Howarth, Sugg, and Vienna Police Chief Shannon Thompson outside of the courtroom.

“There was a joint motion for change of judge, change of venue,” Rowden said.

Kirsch said they hadn’t decided which venue they would like to request.

“The next judge will determine the venue,” Rowden said. “The motion to change judge and venue is sustained. So few change of judges down here. Another circuit judge will likely pick it up.”

White and Kirsch remained silent as Rowden recorded the decision.

“The new judge will set the new court date and it will go to a different county,” Rowden finished.

He sent White to the basement of the Maries County Courthouse to be booked and released by the Maries County Sheriff’s Office. White was photographed and fingerprinted by the Maries County Sheriff’s staff and assigned an offense cycle number (OCN), used to link the identity of a person through fingerprints to cases.

White’s attorney on Jan. 18 made a motion for discovery for evidence against the mayor, which has not been fulfilled yet.

According to a probable cause statement from the Maries County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 20, 2023, White allegedly “stole product from the City Road Department Garage” and was “believed to be misusing the city’s credit card again.”

Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman maintains that his department is still in the investigative process.

“I would expect us to receive a response on our subpoenas in the near feature,” Heitman said.

Maries County Prosecutor Tony Skouby said on Tuesday afternoon that the process is in place for the new judge to determine a venue and the trial-by-jury that White’s attorney requested.

“The defense filed a joint motion for a change of judge and venue,” Skouby explained. “The only thing Judge Rowden is allowed to do under the law is change judges. The change of venue is up to the new judge.”

Once the case has transferred counties, Missouri Case.net will file a new case number under the Maries County case number so the cases are linked.

“Typically on change of venue my recommendation would be to go to Phelps or Pulaski counties,” Skouby said. “In this case the defendant wishes to go outside the circuit.”

White faces Class A misdemeanor charges of stealing and official misconduct.