KIRKSVILLE, MISSOURI -- Former Kirksville dentist, Dr. Steve Barber, is once again asking an appeals court to allow him to leave the state for vacation. 

Barber is asking to be allowed to go to visit a friend in Venice Florida, for a two week period next month. The court has previously allowed Barber to leave the state to visit family in Kansas over the Christmas holiday. 

Barber was sentenced to two concurrent five year prison terms, after an Adair County jury found him guilty on two counts of tampering with a witness. Barber was convicted of offering $150,000 to the parents of the victim in the Tom Oswald sex crime case, if they would not cooperate with the prosecution. 

Barber is currently appealing his conviction and is free on $5000 bond. In his filing, Barber's attorney says that Barber is not a danger, nor a flight risk. 

The Missouri attorney general's office is opposing the motion, saying Barber could be a flight risk, since he has closed his business, lost his right to practice dentistry and is now facing the loss of his home, adding they believe Barber's ties to Adair County are more tenuous than they were six months ago. 

Barber is asking to be allowed to go to Florida from March 4th thru the 18th.

You can read the request motion here.

You can read the prosecution response here.


Previous stories...

Barber hires new attorney  -  Monday, December 19, 2011 
A former longtime Kirksville dentist convicted on two felony charges has decided he needs a new attorney to handle his appeal.
Barber gets out  -  Thursday, August 25, 2011 
Barber released pending appeal.

Dr. Steve Barber sentenced  -  Wednesday, August 17, 2011 
Former Kirksville dentist Steve Barber was sentenced Wednesday.

Dentist surrenders license  -  Thursday, July 28, 2011 
Convicted Kirksville dentist surrenders dental license