Full Notification

Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter reports a Sikeston man arrested for being a Sex Offender Loiter/Present Within 500 Feet of a Playground, Possession of Up to 35 Grams of Marijuana, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child, along with a Morley woman for Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Steven D. McCray (25) of 419 West Gladys, Sikeston, Missouri has been charged with the Class D Felony of a Sex Offender Loiter/Present Within 500 Feet of a Playground, a class A Misdemeanor of Possession of Up to 35 Grams of Marijuana, and a class A Misdemeanor of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

Cheryl Gardiner (22) of 324 West Harding, Morley, Missouri has been charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, a Class C Felony.

Sheriff Walter states that on Wednesday, March 25, 2015 the Sheriff’s Office responded to the Morley City Park, Kirkwood and Virginia Street, in Morley for a report of drug activity. Upon arrival, deputies could smell the odor of marijuana coming from a parked vehicle at the park. The vehicle was occupied by McCray, Gardiner, another female (that was not charged), and a juvenile infant.

Deputies searched the vehicle due to the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. McCray gave the deputies a small bag of marijuana. A larger bag of marijuana, weighing 17 grams, was later located on McCray’s person.

Deputies also located a white substance, which field tested positive for methamphetamine, under the front seat where Gardiner was sitting. Other methamphetamine paraphernalia was located in the glove box.

It was determined that McCray is a registered sex offender in Scott County, Missouri. Stipulations of him being a registered sex offender is that he cannot loiter or be present with 500 feet of a park. With McCray being at the park, sitting in a vehicle, and committing another offense violates the sex offender statute.

Deputies arrested McCray and Gardiner and transported them to the Scott County Jail pending the filing of formal charges by the Scott County Prosecuting Attorney.

Sheriff Walter commends the deputies for locating the source of the drug activity quickly and making an arrest. The Sheriff asks that anyone who has additional information on drug activity or any other criminal activity to contact the Scott County Sheriff’s Office at 545-3525, or leave a message on the crime tip line at 1-866-210-4322.

McCray and Gardiner remains in custody at the Scott County Jail. Bond was set by the court at $1,000.00 cash only on McCray, and $5,000 cash or surety on Gardiner.