A McDonald County man with a storied past has been arrested on Federal weapons charges.
Pastor Robert Neil Joos was arrested at his rural McDonald County farm according to a news release from Matt Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.
"According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, today’s arrest arose from a federal investigation into a Feb. 26, 2004, bombing incident that injured the Director of Diversity & Dialogue for the city of Scottsdale, Ariz. The injured city official is a black male. The undercover investigation focused on several persons involved in white supremacist movements throughout the United States. In the course of the investigation, the affidavit says, undercover agents were told about a retreat location in Missouri that members of the movement utilized. Joos was identified as the owner of the property."
"A confidential informant and two undercover ATF agents visited Joos at his McDonald County property on three occasions in January 2008 and in January and February 2009. During those visits, the affidavit says, they observed several firearms and ammunition," according to the release.
This isn't Joos' first rodeo with authorities involving a hate crime. In 1994 authorities in McDonald County raided the Sacerdotal Order of the David Company and were stunned at what they found. Stockpiled inside the compoud were weapons, ammunition and dynamite. Joos, claimed the weapons were meant for trading.
Unfortunately for Joos, authorities didn't see it his way. Authorities say the religious leader forged an illegal court document and served it to a Missouri State Trooper. When authorities went to his McDonald County compound to arrest him, cops say he put up a fight and had to be maced. Joos was released from jail in April of 1997, but one member of his militant group vowed revenge---that man was Timothy Coombs.
Investigators say that on the evening of September 16, 1994, Timothy Coombs allegedly went to the home of the man who busted his friend and religious leader to seek revenge....that man was Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Bobbie Harper.
Harper, who was recovering from liver transplant surgery, was making a bowl of ice cream when he was shot sniper-style through the kitchen window of his McDonald County home by Coombs. The bullet ripped through his stomach and newly transplanted liver.
Although Trooper Harper didn't immediately die as a result of the gunshot wound, it was a contributing factor in his 1996 death following heart surgery.
Coombs is still on the run from the law to this day and there is a $100,000 reward for his capture. Recently he was named as the Ace of Spades in a deck of playing cards that the Missouri Highway Patrol began distributing to prison inmates last March that feature cold cases and wanted fugitives in Missouri.
COMPLETE NEWS RELEASE:
Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a McDonald County, Mo., man was charged in federal court today with illegally possessing firearms following a search of his 200-acre property in southern Missouri.
Robert Neil Joos, 56, of McDonald County, was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., on Wednesday, June 24, 2009, with being a felon in possession of firearms. Joos, who was arrested this morning, remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Monday, June 29, 2009.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, today’s arrest arose from a federal investigation into a Feb. 26, 2004, bombing incident that injured the Director of Diversity & Dialogue for the city of Scottsdale, Ariz. The injured city official is a black male. The undercover investigation focused on several persons involved in white supremacist movements throughout the United States. In the course of the investigation, the affidavit says, undercover agents were told about a retreat location in Missouri that members of the movement utilized. Joos was identifi! ed as the owner of the property.
A confidential informant and two undercover ATF agents visited Joos at his McDonald County property on three occasions in January 2008 and in January and February 2009. During those visits, the affidavit says, they observed several firearms and ammunition. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.
Joos has a 1997 felony conviction for unlawful use of a weapon and a 2004 felony conviction for operating a motor vehicle without a valid license.
Whitworth cautioned that the charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
Pastor Robert Neil Joos was arrested at his rural McDonald County farm according to a news release from Matt Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.
"According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, today’s arrest arose from a federal investigation into a Feb. 26, 2004, bombing incident that injured the Director of Diversity & Dialogue for the city of Scottsdale, Ariz. The injured city official is a black male. The undercover investigation focused on several persons involved in white supremacist movements throughout the United States. In the course of the investigation, the affidavit says, undercover agents were told about a retreat location in Missouri that members of the movement utilized. Joos was identified as the owner of the property."
"A confidential informant and two undercover ATF agents visited Joos at his McDonald County property on three occasions in January 2008 and in January and February 2009. During those visits, the affidavit says, they observed several firearms and ammunition," according to the release.
This isn't Joos' first rodeo with authorities involving a hate crime. In 1994 authorities in McDonald County raided the Sacerdotal Order of the David Company and were stunned at what they found. Stockpiled inside the compoud were weapons, ammunition and dynamite. Joos, claimed the weapons were meant for trading.
Unfortunately for Joos, authorities didn't see it his way. Authorities say the religious leader forged an illegal court document and served it to a Missouri State Trooper. When authorities went to his McDonald County compound to arrest him, cops say he put up a fight and had to be maced. Joos was released from jail in April of 1997, but one member of his militant group vowed revenge---that man was Timothy Coombs.
Investigators say that on the evening of September 16, 1994, Timothy Coombs allegedly went to the home of the man who busted his friend and religious leader to seek revenge....that man was Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Bobbie Harper.Harper, who was recovering from liver transplant surgery, was making a bowl of ice cream when he was shot sniper-style through the kitchen window of his McDonald County home by Coombs. The bullet ripped through his stomach and newly transplanted liver.
Although Trooper Harper didn't immediately die as a result of the gunshot wound, it was a contributing factor in his 1996 death following heart surgery.
Coombs is still on the run from the law to this day and there is a $100,000 reward for his capture. Recently he was named as the Ace of Spades in a deck of playing cards that the Missouri Highway Patrol began distributing to prison inmates last March that feature cold cases and wanted fugitives in Missouri.
COMPLETE NEWS RELEASE:
Matt J. Whitworth, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a McDonald County, Mo., man was charged in federal court today with illegally possessing firearms following a search of his 200-acre property in southern Missouri.
Robert Neil Joos, 56, of McDonald County, was charged in a federal criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., on Wednesday, June 24, 2009, with being a felon in possession of firearms. Joos, who was arrested this morning, remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing on Monday, June 29, 2009.
According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, today’s arrest arose from a federal investigation into a Feb. 26, 2004, bombing incident that injured the Director of Diversity & Dialogue for the city of Scottsdale, Ariz. The injured city official is a black male. The undercover investigation focused on several persons involved in white supremacist movements throughout the United States. In the course of the investigation, the affidavit says, undercover agents were told about a retreat location in Missouri that members of the movement utilized. Joos was identifi! ed as the owner of the property.
A confidential informant and two undercover ATF agents visited Joos at his McDonald County property on three occasions in January 2008 and in January and February 2009. During those visits, the affidavit says, they observed several firearms and ammunition. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.
Joos has a 1997 felony conviction for unlawful use of a weapon and a 2004 felony conviction for operating a motor vehicle without a valid license.
Whitworth cautioned that the charge contained in this complaint is simply an accusation, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charge must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
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