Sartor charged with witness tampering in felony case

A Mountain Grove man is facing felony witness tampering charges in Douglas County after authorities allege he contacted a witness from the Douglas County Jail and advised him to provide a statement related to a prior incident.

Wesley Eugene Sartor III has been charged with two counts of tampering with a witness in a felony prosecution, a class D felony, according to court records. The charges stem from an alleged incident on June 27.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Lt. James Nelson with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Sartor allegedly called his father, Wesley Sartor II, from the jail phone on June 27. Nelson stated that Sartor II was a witness in an incident that had occurred on June 25. During the call, Sartor III allegedly told him to come in and fill out a statement regarding the individuals involved in the altercation at his residence.

Nelson stated that Sartor III also referenced “stand your ground” laws during the call. According to the probable cause statement, Sartor II later went to the Douglas County Prosecutor’s Office on June 30 and submitted a written statement that Nelson said was “substantially different” from the verbal statement given at the residence.

Nelson wrote that he requested the charges after Sartor allegedly called and advised witnesses to come in and fill out a statement that was different from the statement given at the time of the interview at the residence.

Court records show the complaint and probable cause statement were filed July 2 by Douglas County Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Weatherman. Judge Elizabeth A. Bock reviewed the complaint and probable cause statement and found sufficient facts to show probable cause that a felony had been committed. A warrant was issued with no bond pursuant to Missouri Supreme Court Rule 33.

The warrant was served on Sartor at 4:17 p.m. July 2 by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

An arraignment was held July 6 before Judge Bock. A bond reduction hearing was scheduled for 11 a.m. July 9 in Douglas County.

All charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.