Rex Barnett
Member of the Missouri House of Representatives
from the 4th district
In office
1994–2002
Preceded bySam Graves[1]
Succeeded byBrad Lager
Personal details
Born (1938-11-22) November 22, 1938
Laredo, Missouri
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceMaryville, Missouri
Alma materTrenton Junior College
Central Missouri State University

Rex Barnett (born October 22, 1938)[2] is an American politician and former member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.[3]

A Republican, he represented District 4 (Atchison, Nodaway and Worth Counties) in the Missouri House of Representatives for four terms (from 1994 to 2002). During this time, he sat on committees for criminal law, public safety and law enforcement, and appropriations for corrections and public safety.[4]

Allegations of obstruction of justice

In 2012, Barnett's grandson was arrested for the rape of the then fourteen-year-old Daisy Coleman and for having left her unconscious on her family's front porch in severe conditions in Maryville, Missouri. Barnett's grandson confessed, but prosecutors declined to pursue charges, and allegations were subsequently made that Barnett had interfered with the case.[5]

Barnett subsequently denied any involvement in the case, stating that he "knew that any contact whatsoever by me with the sheriff’s department or prosecuting attorney — or any witness, as far as that goes — would have been bad for me and bad for the case."[6] Barnett's grandson pleaded guilty to misdemeanor second-degree endangerment of the welfare of a child for leaving Coleman outside her house, and was sentenced by Missouri Circuit Judge Glen Dietrich to four months in jail that were suspended in favor of two years probation.[7]

Daisy Coleman died by suicide on August 4, 2020.[8] Daisy's mother, Melinda Coleman, died by suicide on December 6, barely four months later.[9]

See also

References

  1. "MO State House 004 Race - Nov 08, 1994". Our Campaigns. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  2. Rex Barnett's biography at Project Vote Smart; retrieved October 15, 2013
  3. REP. REX BARNETT - 91st General Assembly, at the Missouri House of Representatives; published 2002; retrieved October 15, 2013
  4. Representative Rex Barnett -- District 4 -- Republican at the Missouri House of Representatives; published 2002; retrieved October 15, 2013
  5. Why Was The Maryville Rape Case Dropped?, by Peggy Lowe and Monica Sandreczki; at KCUR-FM/NPR; published July 11, 2013; retrieved October 15, 2013
  6. Dugan Arnett (October 12, 2013). "Nightmare in Maryville: Teens' sexual encounter ignites a firestorm against family". Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on December 29, 2013. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  7. "Alleged Rapist of Daisy Coleman Gets 2 Years Probation". Jezebel. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  8. "Daisy Coleman, student featured in Netflix documentary on sexual assault, dies by suicide". CNN.
  9. "Melinda Coleman, Mother of Audrie and Daisy's Daisy Coleman, Has Died By Suicide 4 Months After Her Daughter". Jezebel. Retrieved December 16, 2020.


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