Chariton County Criminal History Search
Chariton County criminal history records are managed by the 9th Judicial Circuit Court and the Chariton County Sheriff's Office in Keytesville. The county is rural and has a small population, but it uses the same statewide court system and reporting tools as the rest of Missouri. This page explains how to search criminal records in Chariton County, who to contact for copies, and what online databases can help with your search.
Chariton County Quick Facts
Chariton County Circuit Court Records
The 9th Judicial Circuit Court processes all criminal cases filed in Chariton County. The Circuit Clerk's Office is at 306 S. Cherry St. in Keytesville. Phone: (660) 288-3602. The clerk also serves as the Recorder of Deeds. The office handles criminal, civil, traffic, probate, and family court filings for the county.
Criminal records are available on Missouri CaseNet at no cost. Select Chariton County and search by name or case number. CaseNet shows charges, docket entries, and outcomes. No account needed. Sealed or expunged cases will not show up.
For paper copies, go to the clerk's office in Keytesville. Bring a name or case number. Copy fees start at $2 for the first page and 25 cents for each additional page. The 9th Circuit also covers Carroll and Linn counties, so the clerk handles filings from multiple jurisdictions.
Chariton County Sheriff's Office
Sheriff Erick Billups runs the Chariton County Sheriff's Office at 307 S. Cherry St. in Keytesville. Phone: (660) 288-3277. The department handles patrol, investigations, court security, civil process, and jail operations. Deputies keep 24/7 dispatch services running.
The Missouri Department of Corrections maintains an online offender search tool that covers state inmates from Chariton County and all other counties.
Records requests for incident reports and arrest data go through the Sheriff's Office. Under Section 43.503 RSMo, all Chariton County law enforcement must send arrest data to the Highway Patrol's central repository. For a statewide search, use the MACHS portal.
Chariton County Jail
The Chariton County Jail is at 307 S. Cherry Street in Keytesville. Call (660) 288-3277 for inmate info. The Sheriff's Office runs the facility. It holds pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates for county offenses.
Booking records include arrest dates, charges, bond amounts, and court dates. Each booking becomes part of the person's criminal history file. The jail works with the 9th Circuit Court on court scheduling and inmate management.
Chariton County Prosecuting Attorney
Cliff Thornburg serves as the Chariton County Prosecuting Attorney. The office is at 306 S. Cherry St. in Keytesville. Phone: (660) 288-3275. The prosecutor reviews cases, files charges, and represents the state in court. The office works with Safe Passage and True North of Columbia to provide shelter and advocacy for crime victims.
All criminal filings from this office go on record with the Circuit Clerk and are searchable on CaseNet. Contact the office for questions about pending cases or victim services.
How to Search Chariton County Criminal History
CaseNet is the quickest free method. Go to courts.mo.gov/casenet, select Chariton County, and type in a name or case number. Results are instant. No account needed.
For a statewide search, use MACHS at machs.mo.gov. Name checks cost $15. Fingerprint checks cost about $43. You need an account. MACHS covers all 114 counties through the Highway Patrol's central database.
Walk-in requests at the Circuit Clerk or Sheriff's Office in Keytesville work too. The Missouri Sunshine Law (Chapter 610) gives you the right to request records. The office has three business days to respond.
- CaseNet: free, no account
- MACHS name check: $15
- MACHS fingerprint check: about $43
- Court copies: $2 first page, $0.25 each after
Under Section 610.140 RSMo, some Chariton County records can be expunged. Eligible individuals petition the circuit court where the case was filed. Once granted, the record is sealed from public databases.
Public Access to Chariton County Records
The Missouri Sunshine Law (Chapter 610 RSMo) controls how public records work in Chariton County. This law says that government records are open unless a specific statute closes them. It applies to the Circuit Clerk, the Sheriff's Office, and every other county office.
Section 610.023 sets the timeline. When you file a records request, the office has three business days to respond. They can give you the records, tell you they need more time, or deny the request. A denial must be in writing. It must cite the exact law that allows them to withhold the record. If they do not respond in three days, you can treat it as a denial.
Law enforcement records in Chariton County follow their own rules. Section 610.100 covers arrest logs and incident reports. Basic arrest info is public. That includes the name of the person arrested, the charges, and the date of arrest. Investigative reports can be closed while a case is still open. Once the investigation ends or charges are filed, more of the file becomes available to the public.
You do not need to explain why you want a record. The law does not require you to state a reason. Just put your request in writing and give it to the right office. Fees for copies are set by the office but must be reasonable. Most Chariton County offices charge the standard rate of $2 for the first page and 25 cents per page after.
Expungement in Chariton County
Missouri law allows some criminal records to be expunged. Section 610.140 RSMo lists the rules. Not every crime qualifies. Serious violent felonies and sex offenses are not eligible. But many misdemeanors and some felonies can be cleared from your record.
The waiting period depends on the offense. For most misdemeanors, you must wait three years after the case is done. That means three years after you finish any sentence, probation, or parole. For felonies, the wait is seven years. During that time, you cannot pick up new charges.
To start the process in Chariton County, file a petition with the 9th Judicial Circuit Court in Keytesville. There is a filing fee. The court notifies the prosecutor and any victims on file. A hearing may be set. If the judge grants the petition, the record is sealed. It will not show up on CaseNet or in most background checks after that. The Highway Patrol and MACHS databases are updated to reflect the change.