Court Briefs

MF In the News – Court

Judge doesn’t allow bond in Keiffer case, sets hearing for next week

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Circuit Court Judge Robert Rice did not approve bond for Robert Keiffer during a Tuesday morning hearing at the Nodaway County Courthouse, but did schedule a preliminary hearing for next week.

Keiffer was charged with first-degree domestic assault, a class B felony, and unlawful possession of a firearm, a class C felony, following a Sept. 10 standoff with police.

Keiffer attended the hearing in person while his attorney, Michael Feeback, joined remotely. Feeback said he had been on the case for about a week and argued that Keiffer is not a healthy 67-year-old man, noting that he has a brain tumor and Stage 4 kidney failure and arguing that he should be allowed bond to stay with family in Mound City or Maryville.

He said that the family has resources available to pay a reasonable bond and that Keiffer was willing to wear a GPS tracker.

Nodaway County Prosecuting Attorney Tina Deiter, on behalf of the state, opposed bond due to the way in which Keiffer was apprehended in the first place, bringing law enforcement into a standoff for several hours. She also would like to have time to speak to the victim before the court holds a full bond hearing, she said.

Judge Rice ruled against Keiffer based on the possible danger to the public the defendant poses, specifying the standoff and the alleged biting noted in the probable cause statement, “which I find particularly heinous,” he said.

Feeback requested that the preliminary hearing scheduled for next week in Judge Rice’s courtroom be continued, due to scheduling difficulties. Judge Rice asked if he would be able to ask for a recess in his other case, in order to connect with the court via the internet. Because Keiffer is in custody, Rice said he would prefer to keep the case moving and kept it scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Galyan case continued to Nov. 4

MARYVILLE, Mo. — In a brief hearing Tuesday morning, Gerald Galyan, of Burlington Junction, along with his attorney Jared Welch, appeared before Circuit Court Judge Robert Rice to set a preliminary hearing for Nov. 4.

Galyan is charged with financial exploitation of an elderly/disabled person, a class B felony; stealing of $750 or more, a class D felony; counterfeiting, a class D felony; and fraudulent use of a credit/debit device, a class E felony.

The victim in the case, Max Jones, of Burlington Junction, spoke with The Forum in late July about the alleged theft of tens of thousands of dollars by his friend, Galyan.

Between 2023 and 2024, Galyan, then owner of T and J Coins N’ More, allegedly stole $26,320 from Jones’ bank account.

Welch told Judge Rice that due to “voluminous discovery,” they needed a bit more time.

Rice set the case for a preliminary hearing or waiver at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at the Nodaway County Courthouse.