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Wadel, Stangeland appear in court
Neither Andrew D. Wadel or Douglas Stangeland showed any emotion during a closed circuit arraignment held on the third floor of the Vernon County Courthouse on Wednesday, Jan. 20. Both men were arraigned on multiple felony charges related to a home invasion in Northern Vernon County on Nov. 9, 2009. The home invasion charges were filed after both men and Lonnie Swarnes of Rich Hill were arrested in Lake Ozark earlier this month, during a botched attempt to kidnap Jeffrey Muller, a New Jersey pet food dealer.
A fiber optic link between the Vernon County Jail and the courtroom of Associate Circuit Judge Neal Quitno allowed Quitno to inform each man of the charges alleged against him and the penalties if convicted of those charges. Quitno also advised the men of their rights and asked them if they understood the charges and their rights as explained to them.
Wadel replied to each query regarding the eight charges against him with a dry, "Yes I do," and Stangeland began with a "Yes, Sir," but dropped the sir after the first charge was read and simply replied "yes" when asked if he understood the, individually read, second through ninth charges.
When asked if he had retained counsel, Wadel replied that he had. He asserted that he had retained the legal services of Richard Koehler of Butler, Mo. a week earlier. The court had no official record of Koehler's intent to represent the accused. Quitno informed Wadel that his attorney needed to file his intent to represent Wadel and be present in court with Wadel on Thursday, Jan. 21, for a pre-hearing if at all possible. Koehler confirmed in a telephone interview that he had talked with Wadel's parents and said that, "It's probably true" that he would represent Mr. Wadel.
When Quitno inquired as to the status of Stangeland's attorney, Stangeland said his family was trying to make arrangements. The court records show no attorney, but Stangeland replied, "they're working on it." Quitno ordered Stangeland to appear in court on Feb. 4 for a pre-hearing. Stangeland concluded the proceeding with, "Thank you."
Aside from the charges in Vernon County, both men face kidnapping charges in New Jersey. Lonnie Swarnes waived extradition back to New Jersey and made an appearance before a Sussex County judge on Friday, Jan. 15, where he pleaded not guilty to kidnapping. "Superior Court Judge N. Peter Conforti set Swarnes' bail at $750,000 with no 10 percent option ... The judge also issued a waiver of extradition, meaning if Swarnes posts bail, he must remain in New Jersey," according to the New Jersey Herald.
Stangeland and Wadel requested an extradition hearing while being held in the Miller County jail in Tuscumbia, Mo. Miller County Prosecutor Matt Howard confirmed in a telephone interview that Wadel and Stangeland have a Miller County Circuit Court appearance scheduled for Feb. 10 in the extradition matter. At that time they can waive extradition or request a formal hearing.
Sussex County, N. J. assistant prosecutor Greg Mueller said that if they request a hearing they may conduct it right then or they may move it to a later date; he was not sure of Missouri court procedures. He also said that once they have the hearing, the prosecution, under a fugitive complaint, only has to prove that, "1) there exists a warrant that's active, and 2) that it's for those individuals," Once those points are proven, a Missouri judge will order the two men to return to New Jersey and the state of New Jersey has 10 days to act.
"Once we have 10 days we will send New Jersey State Police to bring them back. Mueller said that even if they are granted a later hearing it is only a postponement.
"At the end of the day, one way or another, we're going to get them back here in New Jersey," said Mueller.
When asked how the extradition proceedings will affect the case against the two men in Vernon County, Prosecutor Lynn M. Ewing III said, "It doesn't."
He said they haven't waived extradition, so "I have some time to deal with them here in Missouri. We're going to get some pertaining matters taken care of while they're fighting extradition back to New Jersey."
Both Stangeland and Wadel remain in the Vernon County jail with no bond.
Charges against Stangeland, and possible penalties are:
* One count of burglary, class B felony. Punishable by 5-15 years in the Department of Corrections.
* Two counts of kidnapping, class B felony. Punishable by 5-15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for each count.
* One count assault in the first degree, class A felony. Punishable by 10-30 years or life in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
* Four counts armed criminal action, unclassified felony. Punishable by no less than three years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for each count. No maximum.
* One count possession of an illegal firearm (sawed off shotgun) class C felony. Punishable by up to 7 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Charges against Wadel, and possible penalties are:
* One count of burglary, class B felony. Punishable by five to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
* Two counts of kidnapping, class B felony. Punishable by five to 15 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for each count.
* One count assault in the first degree, class A felony. Punishable by 10-30 years of life in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
* Four counts armed criminal action, unclassified felony. Punishable by no less than three years in the Missouri Department of Corrections for each count. No maximum.