Kidnapping, home invasion suspects appear in court

Alleged kidnappers Douglas Stangeland of Nevada and Andrew Wadel of Rich Hill made an appearance in the Associate Circuit Court of Vernon County on Thursday, Feb. 18, in connection with a November 2009 home invasion at the rural Vernon County home of Charles Scammell. Both men have been scheduled to re-appear for a pre-trial conference on March 11. Court documents show Wadel to be represented by a court appointed public defender, but Stangeland has no attorney of record. Stangeland and Wadel are both being held in the Vernon County jail with no bond.

Both men were arrested in Lake Ozark, Mo., on Jan. 9, in connection with the alleged kidnapping of New Jersey Pet food dealer Jeffrey Muller. Lonnie Swarnes of Rich Hill was also arrested at that time. Swarnes waived his extradition rights and is being held in the Sussex County New Jersey jail. Represented by court appointed attorney David Nufrio, Swarnes entered a plea of not guilty in a New Jersey court proceeding and is being held on $750,000 bond.

William Barger of Nevada was also arrested as a result of the kidnapping investigation and has been charged with multiple felony counts relating to the Scammell home invasion. Barger appeared in a Vernon County court room on Thursday, Feb. 18, but no entry of appearance has been made on his behalf by any attorney, according to the Vernon County prosecutor's office. Barger's next court appearance will be for a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 25, 2010. Barger is also being held with no bond in the Vernon County jail.

Roy Slates, the lastest Nevada man charged in connection with the alleged kidnapping and home invasion was released on a $5,000 bond earlier this month and is scheduled to be arraigned in the Circuit Court of Vernon County on Feb. 22. It is not known if Slates has an attorney at this time.