THE LONG, TRAGIC COURTHOUSE JOURNEY: Of Dorothy Twala Kee
- Details
- Written by Heart Beat editorial

COLUMBIA, Mo 7/19/13 (Feature)-- More police! More money! A special 'public safety tax!" Bigger Columbia police headquarters. A much-enlarged Boone County Courthouse.
In the war on crime, it seems more is better to leaders in Columbia and Boone County. More of everything, that is, than prison time for repeat offenders who cannot rehabilitate.
The arrest last week of Columbia resident Dorothy Twala Mercine Kee for roughly her twenty-eighth offense in 23 years prompted the Heart Beat to republish and update this story from 2008, which also appeared in the Columbia Business Times.
Kee's story illustrates revolving-door justice at its unfortunate worst. Now 43, Kee has spent nearly all her adult life in and out of Boone County's criminal justice system.
She needs help -- needed it years ago. But for reasons that are probably a mix of addiction's powerful grip and government's inability to handle the compassionate side of justice, Kee has never received more than a program here, a suspended sentence there, some time in the Big House, and trip after return trip to a little house where a homeless existence awaits.
Better courts -- or more cops?
By this time, Kee was on at least her 24th criminal offense since 1990.
Catch and release

What jail time she does get has her in and out of a fractured freedom that encourages, not rehabilitation, but self destruction. Her court dockets look like this:
DEFENDANT FAILS TO APPEAR. DEFENDANT REQUESTS A CONTINUANCE FOR NEGOTIATION. WITHOUT OBJECTION CONTINUANCE IS GRANTED. HEARING ON MAY 21, 2009 IS CANCELLED. CASE IS CONTINUED TO JUNE 10, 2009.
DEFENDANT REQUESTS A CONTINUANCE FOR NEGOTIATION. WITHOUT OBJECTION, CONTINUANCE GRANTED AND CASE IS RESET TO AUGUST 13, 2009.
DEFENDANT REQUESTS A CONTINUANCE FOR NEGOTIATION. WITHOUT OBJECTION, CONTINUANCE IS GRANTED AND CASE IS RESET TO JULY 8, 2009.
DEFENDANT REQUESTS A CONTINUANCE FOR NEGOTIATION. CONTINUANCE GRANTED AND CASE TO RESET AUGUST 27, 2009.
DEFENDANT FAILS TO APPEAR, BOND FORFEITURE ORDERED WITH HEARING SET FOR 09-17-09.
Instead, they need to realize "criminal justice" is an oxymoron at the revolving door of the Boone County Courthouse and probably many other courthouses besides. Dorothy Twala Kee has so much company at the revolving door, it's a wonder it revolves at all.
But it does revolve, so fast that judges release repeat offenders almost as quickly as police catch them.
Arresting Agency: Columbia Police Department
Disposition: Guilty Plea
Sentence: Incarceration Jail (Suspended)
PROBATION ORDERED INSTEAD
Outcome: Probation Revoked
7/16/1990
Arresting Agency: Columbia Police Department
Disposition: Guilty Plea
Sentence: Incarceration Jail (Suspended)
09/21/1990 Code:
Sentence: Incarceration Prison
Assault 3rd Degree
09/21/1990
Sentence: Incarceration Jail (Suspended)
12/20/1991
Sentence: Incarceration Prison
Length: 4 Years
Defendant Recommend for Treatment
01/11/1991
Length: 3 Years
SET TO ALSO RUN CONCURRENT W/CASE #90-25550
06/04/1991
Sentence: Prison Incarceration DOC
Length: 3 Years
CONCURRENTLY WITH SENTENCE PREVIOUSLY IMPOSED IN BOONE COUNTY, MO
Date: 09/15/1998
Sentence: Prison Incarceration DOC
Length: 7 Years
4/09/2006
Arresting Agency: Columbia Police Department
Sentence: Fined $100
Arresting Agency: Columbia Police Department
Disposition: Guilty Plea
Sentence: Fined $200

4/29/2006
Arresting Agency: Columbia Police Department
Disposition: Guilty Plea
Sentence: Incarceration Jail
Length: 90 Days
EXECUTION OF SENTENCE SUSPENDED AND DEFENDANT PLACED ON UNSUPERVISED PROBATION FOR 2 YEARS.
Outcome: PROBATION REVOKED AND SENTENCE OF 90 DAYS BOONE COUNTY JAIL ORDERED.
10/18/2006
Arresting Agency: Columbia Police Department
Disposition: Guilty Plea
Sentence: Incarceration Jail
Length: 120 Days
12/09/2006
Arresting Agency: Columbia Police Department
Disposition: Guilty Plea
Sentence: Incarceration Jail
Length: 120 Days
Date: 05/27/2008
Misdemeanor Theft/Stealing
09/05/2008
Arresting Agency: Columbia Police Department
12/03/2008
Arresting Agency: Boone County Sheriff
Disposition: Not disposed
12/03/2008
Arresting Agency: Boone County Sheriff
Disposition: Not disposed
Failure to maintain financial responsibility, driving without a valid driver’s license
9/29/2009
Arresting Agency: Columbia Police Department
First-degree tampering, $4,500 bond
11/2/2010
Arresting Agency: Columbia Police Department
Disposition: Not disposed
Use or possession of drug paraphernalia
12/21/2010
Arresting Agency: Columbia Police Department
Disposition: Not disposed
Fraudulent Use Of A Credit/Debit Device (Value Less Than $500)
03/22/2011
Guilty Plea - 05/17/2011
Sentence: Incarceration Jail
Sentence Date: 05/17/2011
Length: 90 Days
Misdemeanor Theft/Stealing (Value Of Property Or Services Is Less Than $500)
Misdemeanor A RSMo: 570.030
03/22/2011
Tampering With Physical Evidence
03/22/2011
Guilty Plea - 05/17/2011
Sentence: Incarceration Jail 90 Days
Misdemeanor Theft/Stealing (Value Of Property Or Services Is Less Than $500)
10/19/2012
Sentence (Suspended Execution of Sentence)
Sentence: Incarceration Jail (Suspended Execution of Sentence)
Sentence Date: 04/19/2013 Start Date: 04/19/2013 Length: 60 Days
60 DAYS BCJ. SES; DEFT PLACED ON 2 YEARS ACS SUPERVISED PROBATION WITH CONDITIONS IN DOCKET ENTRY
Facility Name: PROBATION Agency: ADULT COURT SERVICES
Classification: SUPERVISED
Felony Stealing, Buying, Receiving, Robbery
07/16/2013
Arresting Agency: Columbia Police Department
Disposition: Not disposed