BELLE — Belle Mayor Daryl White, Jr.’s attorney Thomas J. Kirsch filed a motion to dismiss in Judge Kerry G. Rowden’s 25 Circuit Court on Jan. 17 along with an entry appearance waiver, a not guilty plea, an application for a change of judge, motion to change venue, demand for a jury trial, and a request for a speedy trial. On Jan. 18, Kirsch followed with a motion for discovery.

White is being charged on two allegations of misdemeanors — stealing and official misconduct. He is due in court at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 13 for a Sept. 26 incident.    

Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman obtained the packing slip from Sept. 26, 2023, according to the affidavit, for 36 cans of paint, of which 12 were black spray paint, three cans of lubricant, and 100 cable ties. Heitman also obtained city of Belle bills-to-be-paid from the October 2023 city council meeting, which included a $477.97 purchase to Kimball Midwest and signed minutes where White approved the purchases.

According to a probable cause statement used to serve the search warrant at Belle City Hall on Dec. 20, witnesses alleged they “observed White stealing several cans of spray paint from the City Road Department garage. The source also stated a former public works employee would know more about the items and believed White was also misusing the city’s credit card again.”

The search also resulted in the seizure of copies of the city’s financial records and the DVR from the building’s security cameras in accordance with the Maries County Sheriff’s Office affidavit.

When asked for an update on the case, Heitman said subpoenas are pending.

“We are still waiting on the subpoenas for all the email records as well as the Missouri Attorney General’s Office’s forensic audit team,” Heitman said.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol did return a copy of the DVR from the camera system, but surveillance footage has not been disseminated.