Find Criminal Court Records in Stone County
Stone County criminal court records are maintained by Circuit Clerk Mechelee Lebow at the Judicial Center in Galena. The 39th Judicial Circuit, which also covers Barry and Lawrence counties, handles all felony and misdemeanor cases filed here. You can search Stone County criminal court records online through Case.net for free. The clerk's office went live on Case.net in November 2005, so most recent cases are searchable. Walk-in visits are welcome during business hours. If you need case files, court dates, or copies of filings, Stone County provides several routes to get what you need.
Stone County Quick Facts
Stone County Circuit Clerk Office
Circuit Clerk Mechelee Lebow runs the Stone County Circuit Court office at the Judicial Center in Galena. The office handles civil and domestic relations, criminal, probate, juvenile, and drug court cases. Staff can pull up any case by name or number.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The office closes for lunch from 12:00 to 12:30. Closed on all state and federal holidays. Walk-in requests work well for getting copies fast. Certified copies cost $4.00 for the first page and $1.00 per page after that.
Case.net went live for Stone County on November 15, 2005. Users can track their cases and pay fines online through the system.
| Office | Stone County Circuit Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address |
110 South Maple P.O. Box 18 Galena, MO 65656 |
| Phone | (417) 357-6114 or 6115 |
| Fax | (417) 357-6163 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM (lunch 12:00-12:30) |
Search Stone County Criminal Records Online
Case.net is the best way to search criminal court records in Stone County online. This free state portal covers all Missouri Circuit Courts including the 39th Judicial Circuit. Search by name, case number, or filing date. Results show charges, docket entries, hearings, and dispositions.
You can track cases on Case.net. Sign up for email or text alerts when something new gets filed. You can also pay fines and fees through the website for most case types. The system runs most weekdays from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Central Time.
Sealed, expunged, and juvenile records do not show on Case.net. For those records, call the Stone County Circuit Clerk at (417) 357-6114.
Background Checks in Stone County
The MACHS portal is the state tool for background checks. A name search costs $14. A fingerprint search costs $20. Both run online through the Highway Patrol's website.
Stone County residents can run MACHS checks from home. For complete local case files, contact the Circuit Clerk. MACHS uses statewide data, but the clerk keeps every document filed in a Stone County case.
Types of Criminal Cases in Stone County
Criminal court records in Stone County cover felony and misdemeanor cases heard in the 39th Judicial Circuit. The court also runs a Drug Court division, which handles cases where substance abuse is a factor. Felony cases involve offenses with more than a year in state prison. Misdemeanors go to the Associate Circuit division and carry penalties up to a year in county jail.
Common criminal cases filed in Stone County include drug offenses, theft, assault, DWI, and property crimes. Each case creates a file that the clerk stores at the Judicial Center. Most cases from November 2005 forward are searchable on Case.net. Older records may only exist in paper form at the courthouse in Galena. The Drug Court program offers an alternative track for eligible defendants dealing with addiction issues, and those cases generate their own set of records.
Stone County Records and Missouri Law
Missouri's Sunshine Law governs access to criminal court records in Stone County. Under Chapter 610, most records are open to anyone. The Attorney General's office provides guidance on the law and takes complaints about denied requests.
Under RSMo 610.100, arrest records become public once charges are filed. Expungement is under RSMo 610.140. Some criminal records in Stone County can be sealed if you qualify. The 39th Judicial Circuit handles these petitions.
Offender Records for Stone County
The Missouri Department of Corrections has a free offender search. Look up anyone in state prison or on probation or parole. For county jail records, contact the Stone County Sheriff.
The Missouri Sex Offender Registry lets you search by name or address. This free tool covers all registered offenders in Stone County and statewide.
Stone County Court Divisions
The 39th Judicial Circuit splits criminal work between two divisions in Stone County. The Circuit Division hears all felony cases. A circuit judge presides. Felonies range from Class A through Class E under Missouri law, with Class A being the most serious. Drug distribution, burglary, and aggravated assault are typical felony cases that go through this division at the Judicial Center in Galena.
The Associate Division handles misdemeanors and some lesser criminal matters. An associate circuit judge runs these cases. Penalties top out at one year in county jail. DWI charges, minor drug possession, and petty theft go through this division. Stone County also has a Drug Court program, which is an alternative track for defendants with substance abuse issues. Drug Court cases create their own set of records, but they are filed with the same Circuit Clerk. Both the Circuit and Associate divisions share the same clerk's office, so you only need one stop at 110 South Maple in Galena to get records from either division. The 39th Circuit covers Stone, Barry, and Lawrence counties, so judges rotate between courthouses. Check with the clerk on which days court is in session in Galena. Call (417) 357-6114 for the current schedule. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a lunch break from 12:00 to 12:30.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Stone County. Criminal cases are filed where the offense happened.