The latest local news, weather and high school sports from the Heartland

KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI -- A former longtime Kirksville dentist, facing prison time following his conviction on two felony counts, has filed an appeal of his case. 

Arnold Stephen Barber, 72, Kirksville, has filed an appeal with the Western District Court of Appeals. Barber was convicted by an Adair County jury, on June 3, of two counts of Tampering With a Witness. On August 17 of this year, Judge Karl DeMarce sentenced Dr. Barber to five years in prison on each count, to be served at the same time. 

In the filing, Barber’s attorney, Ed Campbell, asks that Dr. Barber be released on bond pending further appeals of the actual convictions. In the filing Barber, among other things, alleges his health has “degraded substantially” since his conviction, the filing also claims that due to Barber’s precarious financial condition, it is likely that he will be unable to meet his financial obligations. 

Barber remains in the Adair County Jail, pending being transported to the Department of Corrections.

View the court motion here.