BRIAN JOHNSON. KMBC9 NEWS. All right, Brian. A MEMORIAL CONTINUES TO GROW OUTSIDE THE KPD HEADQUARTERS, WHERE A FEW MOMENTS AGO OFFICER JAMES MUHLBAUER AND HIS FAMILY STOPPED TO SEE THE TOUCHING TRIBUTE. SERVICES ARE NOW LESS THAN 24 HOURS AWAY. A PUBLIC VISIT WILL BE HELD AT THE MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM FROM. FROM 9:30 TO 11 AM TOMORROW MORNING. FUNERALS WILL FOLLOW. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO WATCH IT RIGHT HERE AT KMBC. THE FIRST SUPPORTERS WILL THEN PARTICIPATE IN A PROCESSION. THAT ROUTE WILL HEAD NORTH ON BROADWAY OVER THE BUCK O’NEIL BRIDGE, EAST ON NORTHEAST VIVIAN ROAD, NORTH ON NORTH ANTIOCH, AND THEN EAST ON NORTHEAST 64TH TOWARDS THE WHITE CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME IN GLADSTONE AND THE TEENAGER ACCUSED OF DRIVING THE CAR THAT KILLED THE OFFICER, HIS K-9 PARTNER AND ANOTHER MAN ARE NOW FREE ON BOND. OFFICER MUHLBAUER DIED IN THE ACCIDENT ALONG WITH HIS K-9 PARTNER, CHAMP, AND A 52-YEAR-OLD MAN. JARON LIGHTFOOT IS CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF INVOLUNTARY HIT MURDER AND CAN BE SEEN AS ANDY ALCOCK TALKED TO A LOCAL ATTORNEY ABOUT THESE SPECIFIC CHARGES. ACCORDING TO THE ORDERS OF THE COURT. LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT, JARON LIGHTFOOT REACHED A TOP SPEED OF NEARLY 90 MILES AN HOUR, RUNED THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO OFFICER JAMES MUHLBAUER, HIS CAR, KILLING. HIS K-9 PARTNER, CHAMPION AND PEDESTRIAN JESSE ETCHES. I am a firm believer that if you commit crimes, act recklessly and take things away from peoples lives, husbands that you should be punished for it. KANSAS CITY HENRY DEL PROVOCATO SERVICE IS NOT INVOLVED IN THE CASE BUT HAS WORKED AS BOTH PROSECUTOR AND DEFENSE ATTORNEY. HE BELIEVES JACKSON COUNTY LAWYER JEAN PETERS BAKER MADE THE RIGHT DECISION IN CHARGING LIGHTFOOT WITH THE TWO BILLS OF MURDER INCIDENTAL COLLISION IN THE FIRST DEGREE BECAUSE THE STATE MUST PROVE IMPRUDENCE. I DON’T THINK IT WILL BE HARD TO PROVE THAT SOMEONE PASSED THEIR CAR INTO A RED LIGHT AND HIT SOMEONE WITH THE AMOUNT OF TERRIFICATION YOU NEED. IF FOUND GUILTY ON THE TWO CHARGES AGAINST HIM, LIGHTFOOT RISKS A MAXIMUM OF 20 YEARS IN PRISON. 20 YEARS IS A LONG TIME AND, YOU KNOW, ME. I FACE THIS LONG TIME IN MY PRACTICE. A JUDGMENT WILL NEVER GIVE YOU BACK WHAT YOU HAVE LOST. LIGHTFOOT SHOULD RETURN TO COURT NEXT MONDAY FOR A BONDS REVIEW HEARING. AT KQED DOWNTOWN HEADQUARTERS, ANDY ALCOCK, KMBC9 NEWS LIGHTFOOT BONDING IS BASED ON MODIFIED GUIDELINES. THE SUPREME COURT OF MISSOURI CHANGED IN 2019. THE IDEA BEHIND THESE CHANGES WAS PARTLY TO MAKE BOND CHEAPER. THERE ARE MANY WAYS YOU CAN HELP OFFICER MUHLBAUER’S FAMILY. THE KANSAS CITY FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE HAS ESTABLISHED A FUNDRAISER WITH ALL DONATIONS GOING DIRECTLY TO THE FAMILY. YOU CAN ALSO DONATE TO A MEAL TRAIN ACCOUNT TO MAKE SURE OFFICER MUHLBAUER’S FAMILY DOESN’T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT COOKING MEALS WHILE DEALING WITH THIS TRAGEDY. WE HAVE LINKS TO BOTH ONLINE FUNDRAISERS AT CANEY AND BBC.COM AND REMINDER YOU, WE WILL PROVIDE YOU LIVE COVERAGE OF TOMORROW’S SERVICES STARTING AT 11.30AM IN THE MORNING. WE WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE UPDATES ON THIS STORY RIGHT HERE, RICK AND BBC.COM.
The lawyer thinks the prosecutor made the right charges in the incident that killed a KCPD officer
A Tonganoxie man accused of killing Kansas City Police Officer James Muhlbauer, his fellow K-9 officer Champ and pedestrian Jesse Eckes in a high-speed crash Wednesday
Updated: 6:27 PM CST February 21, 2023
A local attorney not involved in the case says Jackson County Attorney Jean Peters Baker made the right prosecution decision against a Tonganoxie man accused of killing Kansas City Police Officer James Muhlbauer, his partner K-9 Champ officer and pedestrian Jesse Eckes in a high-speed crash Wednesday. Henry Service worked as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney. “I strongly believe that if you commit crimes and act recklessly and take things from people, their lives, their husbands, that you should be punished for that,” Service said. “We’ve been here before, unfortunately, we work on these regularly right now,” Baker said Thursday, as she was working on the case. Baker also said the type of evidence that could be examined included black boxes or vehicle computers. According to court documents, Lightfoot’s car’s computer showed he hit a top speed of nearly 90 miles per hour just a couple of seconds before he ran through a red light and crashed into Muhlbauer’s c ar. Based on the two first-degree involuntary manslaughter charges against Lightfoot, the service said the state must prove he acted recklessly. the amount of recklessness you need,” Service said. In 2019, the Missouri Supreme Court changed bond guidelines to make them more convenient for suspects charged with a felony. from people asking me about this and mostly clients saying I made less than that and had to pay a higher bail I don’t know if it’s an exact science how they calculate bonds but I’m sure if you ask 100 lawyers, they are baffled as to who gets high bond and who gets low bond,” Service said. Based on After the charges against him, Lightfoot faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. “Twenty years is a long time, and I deal with this very often in my practice. A judgment can never give you back what you lost, and so there will be sadness either way,” Service said. Lightfoot is expected to return to court on Monday for a bond review hearing.
A local attorney not involved in the case says Jackson County Attorney Jean Peters Baker made the right prosecution decision against a Tonganoxie man accused of killing Kansas City Police Officer James Muhlbauer, his partner K-9 Champ officer and pedestrian Jesse Eckes in a high-speed crash Wednesday.
Henry Service worked as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney.
“I strongly believe that if you commit crimes, act recklessly and take things from people, their lives, their husbands, that you should be punished for it,” Service said.
“We’ve been here before, unfortunately, we’re working on these regularly right now,” Baker said Thursday, as he was working on the case.
Baker also said the type of evidence that could be examined included black boxes or vehicle computers.
According to court documents, Lightfoot’s car’s computer showed he hit a top speed of nearly 90 miles per hour just a couple of seconds before he ran a red light and crashed into Muhlbauer’s car.
Based on the two first-degree involuntary manslaughter charges against Lightfoot, the service said the state must prove he acted recklessly.
“I don’t think it’s going to be hard to prove that someone putting their car on a red light and hitting someone is the amount of recklessness you need,” Service said.
In 2019, the Missouri Supreme Court changed bond guidelines to make them more affordable for suspects charged with a crime.
Based on these guidelines, Lightfoot paid ten percent of his $30,000 or $3,000 bail and was out of jail.
“I have personally received many calls from people asking me about this and mainly from clients saying I had done less than that and had to pay a higher deposit. I don’t know if it’s an exact science how they calculate bonds, but I’m sure if you ask 100 lawyers, they’re baffled as to who gets high bond and who gets low bond,” Service said.
Based on the charges against him, Lightfoot faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.
“Twenty years is a long time and I deal with this very often in my practice. One sentence can never give you back what you lost, so there will be sadness either way,” Service said.
Lightfoot is expected to return to court on Monday for a bond review hearing.
