MSHP Investigation Leads To Four Arrests

On March 16, members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested the following individuals after a special investigation by criminal investigators within its Division of Drug and Crime Control:

Iron County Sheriff Jeff Burkett, Deputy Chase Bresnahan, Deputy Matt Cozad and Iron County resident Donald “Rick” Gaston are among those charged.

Jeffery L. Burkett, 46, of Des Arc, MO, has been charged with the following:
· Participating knowingly in criminal street gang activities (Class B Felony)
· Conspiracy to commit class A/B/C felony or unclassified felony exceeding 10 years (Class C Felony)
· Attempted kidnapping, facilitating a felony, inflicting injury, terrorizing first degree (Class C felony)
· Accessory to stalking first degree, first offense (Class E felony)
· Stalking second degree, first offense (Class A misdemeanor)
· Obtain criminal history record information under false pretense (Class A misdemeanor)
· Misusing “911” (Class B misdemeanor)
· Making false report (Class B misdemeanor)
Bond has been set at $500,000, cash only.

Chase R. Bresnahan, 31, of Centerville, MO, has been charged with the following:
· Participating knowingly in criminal street gang activities (Class B Felony)
· Conspiracy to commit class A/B/C felony or unclassified felony exceeding 10 years (Class C Felony)
· Conspiracy to commit class A/B/C felony or unclassified felony exceeding 10 years (Class C Felony)
· Obtain criminal history record information under false pretense (Class A misdemeanor)
· Misusing “911” (Class B misdemeanor)
· Stalking first degree, first offense (Class E felony)
· Stalking second degree, first offense (Class A misdemeanor)
Bond has been set at $400,000, cash only.

Donald R. Gaston, 62, of Caledonia, MO, has been charged with the following:
· Participating knowingly in criminal street gang activities (Class B felony)
· Attempted parental kidnapping by detain/conceal child’s whereabouts for 120 days or more (Class C felony)
· Conspiracy to commit class A/B/C/ felony or unclassified felony exceeding 10 years (Class C felony)
· Stalking first degree, first offense (Class E felony)
· Stalking second degree, first offense (Class A misdemeanor)
· Making false report (Class B misdemeanor)
Bond has been set at $400,000, cash only.

Matthew A. Cozad, 39, of Bixby, MO, has been charged with the following:
· Participating knowingly in criminal street gang activities (Class B Felony)
· Conspiracy to commit class A/B/C felony or unclassified felony exceeding 10 years (Class C Felony)
· Conspiracy to commit class A/B/C felony or unclassified felony exceeding 10 years (Class C Felony)
· Misusing “911” (Class B misdemeanor)
· Accessory to stalking first degree, first offense (Class E felony)
· Accessory to stalking second degree, first offense (Class A misdemeanor)

Bond has been set at $400,000, cash only.

All four subjects were turned over to the neighboring Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Potosi.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is now assisting with policing duties in Iron County.

Get our free mobile app

This case is being prosecuted by Washington County Prosecuting Attorney John Jones and Washington County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Caleb Aponte.

Anyone with information concerning this investigation should contact the Missouri Highway Patrol Criminal Investigative Unit at (573) 840-9500.

Note: The above charges are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.