Prosecuting Attorney Sawyer Smith appointed William Rance Butler as Special Assistant Prosecutor in Division I Court on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.  Honorable Circuit Judge Rob Mayer administered the oath to Attorney Butler during a swearing-in ceremony held at the Stoddard County Justice Center.

SAPA Butler will begin assisting in the prosecution of criminal cases right away; his position will initially be funded pursuant to an agreement between PA Smith and the Board Members of the Stoddard County Law Enforcement Restitution Fund.

Rance Butler has practiced criminal law in Southeast Missouri for 24 years.  He previously served as Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Stoddard County from 2008-2011.  He served with the Missouri State Public Defender’s Office as an Assistant Public Defender from 2019-2021 and as a District Defender from 2021-2023.  Butler will maintain a private civil practice part-time in addition to his duties as SAPA.

“The hiring of Rance Butler is more positive news coming from this Office.  Foremost, I believe in his commitment to ‘Justice For All.’  His contributions will be great.  APA Ryan and I look forward to his assistance in trying more cases before juries.  This would not be a possible achievement without the support of Stoddard County LERF Board Members, I do appreciate them working with me on this, and I also want to thank Sheriff Carl Hefner and Coroner Brent Stidham for their support.  This is actually another historic milestone in that it will be the first time three attorneys prosecute crime at the Stoddard County Prosecutor’s Office.  The time has finally come for this to happen, the SCPA office staff is more robust than ever before, filings are going up and crime is going down.  All of this is to increase benefit to the law-abiding People of Stoddard County.  Welcome aboard to Rance, and Congratulations, I am so proud for him to join the team.”  stated Sawyer Smith, PA-1