RICH FOUNTAIN — On April 22, 2024, Wendie Bender, 38, of Bland, and Robert Karnes, 42, of Rich Fountain, were arrested at the Rich Fountain apartment complex across the street from a school and church.

Karnes was charged the next day with one count of possession and one count of unlawful use of a weapon. Bender was charged with two counts of possession.

Per a probable cause statement filed by the Mid Missouri Drug Task Force, on April 22 the Osage County Sheriff’s Office notified Mid Missouri Drug Task Force Lt. Kyle Towles of two anonymous phone calls which provided an address for Robert Karnes and said that Karnes sold methamphetamine. Deputies advised that the truck registered to Karnes was parked near that address.

During surveillance, Lt. Towles saw Karnes. Lt. Towles and Osage County Sheriff’s Detective Austin Edgar knock on the door of the apartment. Karnes let them in, and they noticed a female (later identified as Wendie Bender), on the couch.

Lt. Towles notified Karnes of the reason for their visit and asked for permission to search the residence. In plain view, Lt. Towles noted a short straw with visible white powder in it. That powder later tested positive for methamphetamine.

Karnes admitted to having methamphetamine and said he believed it to be less than 10 grams. Lt. Towles asked Karnes to show him the methamphetamine, so Karnes took him to the bedroom and produced a glass pipe, a glass water pipe, and two containers with white crystal in them. Karnes then took Lt. Towles in to the living room and produced a glass water pipe, digital scales, baggies, and a bag containing approximately 14 grams of white crystal.

Karnes consented to Lt. Towles looking under the coffee table, from where those items were produced. Under the table, Lt. Towles found a loaded Rock Island Armory 1911 style .45 cal semi-automatic pistol. Karnes advised that there was a rifle and a .22 revolver in the bedroom, next to his bed. Detective Edgar located those weapons, along with a tin containing additional drug paraphernalia.

During the search, Bender gave Detective Edgar permission to search her purse, which contained a cigarette box Bender said was hers. In the box were three white pills that Bender said were Vicodin that had been prescribed for her at one time, and a pink baggie that tested positive for methamphetamine. Bender denied knowledge of methamphetamine in her bag.

Karnes has several prior felony convictions, including a 2003 forgery conviction in Phelps County. He was released on $20,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on May 7, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.

Bender was also released on bond, however she has applied for a public defender. No court date had been set as of Tuesday afternoon.