By Jim Burrows
Daily News Staff Writer

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The Neosho man who is not a lawyer but filed for election on the Libertarian Party ticket as that party's nominee for associate circuit court judge of Newton County was arraigned today for an election offense.

And the man was served a summons to appear in court in a civil action in which another candidate for Division 2 judge has asked the court to remove Richard Doyle's name from the election ballot.

Doyle, 54, 420 Morrow, filed in the county clerk's office March 27. He said the allegation against him is "malicious slander."

Since he was charged, Doyle has filed a "Demand for Grand Jury Investigation" in circuit court. He wants an investigation of the prosecutor's office, the county clerk's office and the 40th Judicial Circuit.

"Newton County Prosecutor Greg Bridges threatened to file charges against (Doyle) if defendant did not withdraw his name as a candidate for judge. "This prosecutor has recently seen fit to file bogus, politically-motivated charges against defendant solely because defendant refused to withdraw his candidacy."

"Filing malicious, bogus, politically-motivated, trumped-up charges as a means to achieve illegal ends such as political domination by a favored political party candidate is the sort of willful misconduct in office that a grand jury of the citizenry is supposed to investigate."

Page 2 Doyle accompanied by Lindstedt today

In early April Bridges sent a letter to Doyle saying he would file a felony charge against him if he did not withdraw his candidacy. In his letter Bridges noted the Missouri Constitution says anyone who is elected an associate circuit judge must be a licensed attorney.

Doyle responded with a letter, saying he would not withdraw his candidacy.

April 28 Bridges filed the Class 1 election offense, punishable upon conviction with imprisonment of up to five years in prison and/or a fine of not less than $2,500 and not more than $10,000.

The charge says that Doyle violated an election law by signing a declaration of candidacy for associate circuit judge indicating that he would qualify if elected. The charge says he knew that associate judges in Missouri must be licensed to practice law while Doyle was not qualified and could not qualify if elected.

The only other candidate who filed for the post was incumbent Judge Greg Stremel, a licensed attorney who filed on the Republican Party ticket. Judge Stremel, in front of whom Doyle would have first appeared in court, recused himself from the case last week.

Doyle appeared before Circuit Judge Tim Perigo. He had also filed a motion for release on his own recognizance.

In part, the motion says:

"This particular defendant has always (Doyle's emphasis) appeared in court for trial, especially for the bogus cases such as these. Defendant promises to appear in every matter for which this case is prosecuted. In any case, since defendant is on the ballot to run as a Libertarian Party candidate for associate circuit court judge, defendant is definitely not a flight risk, to the contrary in fact.

At arraignment today Doyle waived his right to a court- appointed attorney to represent him. Accompanied by Martin Lindstedt, the Newton County Libertarian Party chairman, Doyle said he had chose the counsel of his choice.

Judge Perigo set up a preliminary hearing on the election offense for the afternoon of Tuesday, May 19. The judge approved a signature bond and did not take up the matter of a grand jury.

Judge Stremel's suit against Doyle was filed last week under provisions of the state election laws which allow for the removal of a candidate's name from the ballot if that candidate can be shown to not be qualified if elected. The suit asks the court to disqualify Doyle because he is not licensed to practice law in Missouri.