Today, Johnny Crowels was sentenced to 40 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections by Judge Mouton in the Jasper County Circuit Court. The sentencing follows Crowels’ conviction by a jury on June 5, 2024, for multiple charges related to a high-speed chase and confrontation with law enforcement on April 1, 2022.
On the day of the incident, Jasper County Deputies, along with officers from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Carthage Police Department, attempted to stop a stolen truck driven by Crowels. During the pursuit, Crowels fired shots from his vehicle at the pursuing officers and rammed a Jasper County patrol car before crashing the stolen vehicle into a creek near Fairview and County Road 170. Crowels then fled on foot with a firearm still in his possession. He was apprehended a short time later by Jasper County Deputies.
The charges on which Crowels was found guilty include:
- Assault in the 4th Degree
- Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
- Tampering with a Motor Vehicle
- Unlawful Use of a Weapon
- Resisting Arrest by Fleeing
Crowels’ actions on April 1, 2022, placed numerous lives at risk and demonstrated a blatant disregard for the safety of law enforcement officers and the public. Judge Mouton’s sentencing reflects the severity of these offenses and the commitment of the Jasper County judicial system to uphold the rule of law.
