Rex Barnett Explained

Rex Barnett
State House:Missouri
District:4th
Term Start:1994
Term End:2002
Predecessor:Sam Graves[1]
Successor:Brad Lager
Birth Date:22 November 1938
Birth Place:Laredo, Missouri
Nationality:American
Party:Republican
Residence:Maryville, Missouri
Alma Mater:Trenton Junior College
Central Missouri State University

Rex Barnett (born October 22, 1938)[2] is an American politician and former member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.[3]

A Republican, he represented District 4 (Atchison, Nodaway and Worth Counties) in the Missouri House of Representatives for four terms (from 1994 to 2002). During this time, he sat on committees for criminal law, public safety and law enforcement, and appropriations for corrections and public safety.[4]

Allegations of obstruction of justice

In 2012, Barnett's grandson, Matthew Barnett, was arrested for the rape of the then fourteen-year-old Daisy Coleman and for having left her unconscious on her family's front porch in severe conditions in Maryville, Missouri. Barnett's grandson confessed, but prosecutors declined to pursue charges, and allegations were subsequently made that Barnett had interfered with the case.[5]

Barnett subsequently denied any involvement in the case, stating that he "knew that any contact whatsoever by me with the sheriff’s department or prosecuting attorney — or any witness, as far as that goes — would have been bad for me and bad for the case."[6] Barnett's grandson pleaded guilty to misdemeanor second-degree endangerment of the welfare of a child for leaving Coleman outside her house, and was sentenced by Missouri Circuit Judge Glen Dietrich to four months in jail that were suspended in favor of two years probation.[7]

Daisy Coleman died by suicide on August 4, 2020.[8] Daisy's mother, Melinda Coleman, died by suicide on December 6, barely four months later.[9]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MO State House 004 Race - Nov 08, 1994 . Our Campaigns . May 9, 2020.
  2. http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/9304/rex-barnett Rex Barnett's biography
  3. http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/spec01/member01/bio004.htm REP. REX BARNETT - 91st General Assembly
  4. http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/spec01/member01/mem004.htm Representative Rex Barnett -- District 4 -- Republican
  5. http://kcur.org/post/why-was-maryville-rape-case-dropped Why Was The Maryville Rape Case Dropped?
  6. Web site: Nightmare in Maryville: Teens’ sexual encounter ignites a firestorm against family . https://web.archive.org/web/20131229152232/https://www.kansascity.com/2013/10/12/4549775/nightmare-in-maryville-teens-sexual.html . December 29, 2013 . Dugan Arnett . October 12, 2013 . Kansas City Star . November 20, 2022.
  7. Web site: Alleged Rapist of Daisy Coleman Gets 2 Years Probation. December 16, 2020. Jezebel. en-us.
  8. Web site: Daisy Coleman, student featured in Netflix documentary on sexual assault, dies by suicide. CNN.
  9. Web site: Melinda Coleman, Mother of Audrie and Daisy's Daisy Coleman, Has Died By Suicide 4 Months After Her Daughter. December 16, 2020. Jezebel. en-us.