Marshall Democrat-News: Local News: Higginsville man sentenced to 7 years for theft

After a stop in Lafayette County to face charges there, William P. Willbanks, 40, of Higginsville, will be spending the next seven years in Missouri Department of Corrections as the result of a sentence handed down by Circuit Court Judge Dennis A. Rolf Monday, Nov. 9.

A grand jury indictment was filed for the case in December 2008; Willbanks pleaded guilty to class C felony theft in Rolf's 15th Circuit Court in March and was given a five-year term of probation.

According to unofficial online court records, a motion to revoke probation was filed in June. Following a hearing July 13, Willbanks was released on his own recognizance after he posted a $10,000 bond. Monday's sentence was the result of another probation violation filed Oct. 16.

Willbanks is accused of class B felony financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled person in Lafayette County and is scheduled for a hearing there Monday, Nov. 16.

Willbanks' criminal history includes convictions for theft and for passing bad checks.

Contact Kathy Fairchild at marshallhealth@socket.net

Just to clarify, the sentence in this specific case is 7 years DOC, not probation.

-- Posted by Kathy Fairchild on Tue, Nov 10, 2009, at 1:46 PM

I am not sure "who" should be to blame here, but this is just ridiculous. Everyone gets probation and their sentences just in my eyes dropped.

-- Posted by Curiousintown on Tue, Nov 10, 2009, at 11:26 AM

Gumby,

Don't you think maybe some of the blame should be placed on the prosecuter for the light sentences????

-- Posted by granny08 on Mon, Nov 9, 2009, at 10:39 PM

Gray hair,

My apologies, I am so accustomed to seeing concurrent sentences in our courts that it has stuck in my brain. I did say concurrent but I indeed meant consecutive. Thank You for enough interest that you follow my comments and correct me...hmmm

That's what you get for going to MU.....

-- Posted by Gumby on Mon, Nov 9, 2009, at 9:21 PM

Gumby, if you are a recent law school graduate and it is your desire to see Mr. Wilbanks do "some" time, then wouldn't you want to see him get a consecutive sentence instead of a concurrent sentence? I believe concurrent means running at the same time as his present sentence while consecutive means running after his present sentence is served. Just helping you a bit with what you apparently did not learn in Law school. GH

-- Posted by Gray hair on Mon, Nov 9, 2009, at 7:11 PM

ADVOCATE,

What about this article suggest that Kathy Fairchild has a hidden agenda in her reporting of this case??

Sounds like this is another defendant that has been given every break in the book by Rolf? I hope he gets conncurrent time on his next case pending. That way he might actually do some time!

Kathy is the first to tear me up on my comments, but I respect her right to do so and my right to argue my point with her. But I fail to understand your comment on this article. Maybe you could make your next comment in english??

-- Posted by Gumby on Mon, Nov 9, 2009, at 7:02 PM

Advocate: If you have a complaint, please state it.

-- Posted by Kathy Fairchild on Mon, Nov 9, 2009, at 6:47 PM

Do you have a hidden agenda, Ms. Fairchild?

-- Posted by ADVOCATE on Mon, Nov 9, 2009, at 5:37 PM

Response by Eric Crump/Editor:

Why do you ask?