Repeat offender responsible for alleged south Joplin burglaries

An area prosecutor says the man who is alleged to have burglarized a south Joplin business and nearby home early Wednesday morning is a repeat offender who keeps being released.

After charging 46-year-old Kevin Van Granger, of Purdy, with two counts of burglary, Newton County Prosecuting Attorney William Lynch says it’s “disheartening” that Missouri engages in a catch-and-release system of justice.

“The amount of resources wasted on chasing repeat offenders that should still be in prison is innumerable,” said Lynch. “It is true that he was sentenced to seven years of the Department of Corrections in Newton County in October of 2020 and was released after 12 months.”

Lynch says it is important to remember that Granger is innocent until proven guilty in court, but it’s not the first time Granger has been in trouble with the law.

According to court documents, Granger has been sentenced to a total of 74 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections, 43 years, taking all concurrent time into consideration.

But he has only spent 10 years and 2 months in the Missouri Department of Corrections with 4 years and 2 months of that being on one case of Assault in the 2nd Degree.

This comes as a request has been filed that Granger be held on a high bond, or in the alternative, no bond, for Wednesday’s alleged burglary of Wildcat Materials Inc. and a nearby home.