Zachary Thompson Clay County Prosecutor

09/07/2026

09/06/2026

For this Shoutout Sunday, we want to highlight a group of professionals who often do not receive the recognition they deserve: our court reporters.

Because they stay incredibly busy, it was quite a challenge to get them all together for this acknowledgment. Every day, these individuals apply their Certified Court Reporter (CCR) standards to maintain flawless, word-for-word records under high-pressure courtroom environments.

Their essential duties require extensive expertise, including capturing real-time verbatim records of all spoken testimony, managing courtroom exhibits, researching complex legal and medical terminology, and producing certified official transcripts.

Thank you Kristal Murphy, Janet Wimer, Tammy Cruz, and Jan Ensminger for your precision, sharp focus, and hard work. Your professionalism keeps our legal system running smoothly, and we greatly appreciate your efforts.

09/05/2026

Filed Charges Update

As part of our commitment to transparency, the Clay County Prosecutor’s Office provides monthly updates on the number of felony and misdemeanor cases reviewed and formally charged.

In August, a total of 699 charges were filed with the Court, consisting of 585 misdemeanors and 114 felonies. Of those misdemeanors, the majority were traffic-related offenses. These cases were investigated and submitted by our local law enforcement partners, whose collaborative efforts are essential to maintaining public safety.

The charges reflect the dedicated work of the officers, deputies, and troopers who serve our community, and we remain grateful for their commitment to thorough investigations. Our office will continue to provide these updates to keep the public informed of the work being accomplished by Clay County public safety professionals.

09/04/2026

This past weekend, law enforcement officers in the Kansas City metro area participated in Saturation Saturday. The annual initiative fights drunk driving through a night of increased patrols in collaboration with MADD Heartland. We would like to extend our thanks to Ann Riley, Program Manager for MADD in the KC area, and to MADD for their work in increasing road safety for all.

Stay safe this weekend, and don’t drink and drive. Calling a rideshare service will always cost less than a DWI.

09/03/2026

For this week’s Thankful Thursday, we’re shouting out Child Support Caseworker, Kara Pinnick!

Since joining our office earlier this year, Kara has made the perfect addition to our team. She is an incredibly hard worker and is thorough in everything she prepares for our Assistant Prosecutors. She pays attention to detail, is an exceptional communicator, and goes above and beyond for our office. Her expansive legal knowledge and work ethic are top notch, and she has consistently proven that she is someone we can count on. She has had an incredibly positive impact on our team in just five months with us. We are so thankful you chose to join our team, and are excited to see all you will continue to accomplish!

Thank you, Kara, for everything you do to support our team and the community!

09/02/2026

Dangerous Chase Ends with Prison

Last week, Assistant Prosecutor Kase Glidewell secured a 4-year sentence for Defendant Donald Erkfritz for the felony of Aggravated Fleeing (Valentine’s Law).

The sentence follows an incident on October 20th, 2025, when a Clay County Sherriff’s Deputy attempted to stop a gold GMC Yukon, driven by Erkfritz. The vehicle matched the description of one reported stolen out of Kansas City. As the Deputy tried to catch up to the Yukon, the vehicle sped off, and a pursuit began.

The pursuit started on 210 Highway near Ameristar Drive, with Erkfritz traveling 100 MPH in a 55 MPH zone. The pursuit continued as the Yukon turned onto Z Highway, reaching speeds of 82 MPH in a 25 MPH zone. The Yukon then drove through the backyard of a home, before turning back onto Z Highway and overturning near Centennial Road.

Erkfritz also pled guilty and was sentenced for possession of methamphetamine.

We thank the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff's Office, the Court, and our Assistant Prosecutors for their work and collaboration in ensuring our roadways remain safe for all.

State of Missouri v. Donald Erkfritz
Case no. 25CY-CR03125-01

09/01/2026

$554,922.49 Returned to Victims

Last month, our office collected $109,714.44 in restitution, bringing our yearly total to $554,922.49 recovered and distributed. These payments from offenders provide vital relief to victims by covering tangible losses such as medical expenses, property damage, and stolen funds.

Paralegal Ryan "Restitution" Vutich continues to spearhead these efforts, working alongside our Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys who secure the necessary court orders and payments. Ryan remains focused on tracking and distributing these funds to ensure they reach victims directly. This collaborative work reinforces offender accountability and provides meaningful financial recovery for those impacted by crime.

08/31/2026

WANTED DEFENDANTS FOUND

In the month of August, law enforcement officers apprehended two Most Wanted Defendants. John Mariner is charged with Failure to Register as a S*x Offender in State vs. Mariner 26CY-CR01974. Jeffrey Ray is also charged with Failure to Register as a S*x Offender in State vs. Ray 26CY-CR00143.

We thank the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff's Office for their work in arresting Mariner, and the U.S. Marshals for their work in arresting Jeffrey Ray. Due to their collaboration, the legal process can now move forward.

Public cooperation remains a critical part of helping law enforcement locate and apprehend alleged offenders. You can find the complete list and information about how to collect a $3,000 anonymous reward at claycountyprosecutor.com. As always, all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

08/30/2026

Two Sentenced Following Reckless Pursuits

This week, we secured two prison sentences for separate defendants following dangerous, high-speed vehicle chases that put residents and law enforcement at risk. Thankfully, no one was hurt in either incident.

Joseph Pratt was sentenced to 2 years in prison after pleading guilty to Aggravated Fleeing (Valentine’s Law) from a January 17, 2026 traffic stop. After a deputy approached his black Mitsubishi Eclipse for an expired plate, Pratt fled and drove more than double the posted 25 MPH speed limit through several residential areas. His pursuit speeds reached up to 67 MPH on NE Winn Road and remained above 60 MPH on NE Russell Road, NE Drexel Road, NE Monterey Avenue, and NE 35th Street.

In a separate case, Giovanna Buchanan was sentenced to 3 years in prison for Resisting Arrest. Buchanan fled from a deputy attempting to conduct a traffic stop for a registration violation in a black Acura TL, traveling northbound on Antioch Road south of NE Vivion Road at 100 MPH in a 40 MPH zone. She continually failed to stay in her lane and ran multiple red lights until a trooper ended the pursuit using a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI). Buchanan attempted to flee a second time after spinning out onto the shoulder, but she was quickly blocked and taken into custody.

Fleeing from law enforcement is never a good idea and you risk turning a minor traffic stop into a severe felony conviction with prison time.

We thank the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Courts and our Assistant Prosectors for their work.

08/29/2026

Please welcome our newest Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Andrea Gurera!

Andrea is a Northland native who is already a familiar face around our office, having previously served as a Legal Intern with us in 2023.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Rockhurst University before graduating with her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. Most recently, Andrea expanded her legal experience by working for a judge, bringing valuable courtroom insight to her new role.

We are thrilled to have her back on the team full-time to serve our community. Welcome aboard, Andrea!