All Charges Dismissed Against Former Carthage Parks Director

Attorneys say evidence proved client's innocence after forensic audit inconsistencies were uncovered.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Missouri Attorney General's office has announced that all criminal charges against former Carthage Parks and Recreation director Mark Peterson will be dismissed on Tuesday, February 17. The charges, which included three counts of stealing and two counts of money laundering, were originally filed by the Jasper County Prosecutor's Office based on a forensic audit requested by the City of Carthage.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges that can arise when data is potentially manipulated or overlooked during a forensic audit, leading to wrongful charges against an individual. The dismissal underscores the importance of thorough legal strategies that incorporate new technologies to protect client rights.

The details

Peterson's attorneys at The Glades Law Firm were able to obtain bank records for the City of Carthage on January 26 and identify 35 deposits that Peterson had made into the city's account that were not reported to the forensic auditor. This allowed the defense team to demonstrate inconsistencies that had been overlooked by the Carthage Police Department, leading to the charges being dismissed.

  • The charges against Peterson were originally filed by the Jasper County Prosecutor's Office.
  • On January 26, Peterson's attorneys obtained bank records for the City of Carthage.
  • All charges against Peterson will be dismissed on Tuesday, February 17.

The players

Mark Peterson

The former Carthage Parks and Recreation director who was facing criminal charges that have now been dismissed.

The Glades Law Firm

The law firm that represented Peterson and was able to obtain evidence demonstrating his innocence.

Missouri Attorney General's office

The office that has announced the dismissal of all charges against Peterson.

Jasper County Prosecutor's Office

The office that originally filed the criminal charges against Peterson.

City of Carthage

The city that requested the forensic audit that led to the charges against Peterson.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This case highlights the dangerous circumstances when data may be manipulated to arrive at the conclusion desired.”

— Brian Glades, Attorney, The Glades Law Firm (blogspot.com)

“My team here at the office along with Mark's never-ending quest to prove his innocence allowed us to sift through terabytes of data to find the precise 'needle in the haystack' that demonstrated our client's innocence.”

— Brian Glades, Attorney, The Glades Law Firm (blogspot.com)

What’s next

The dismissal of all charges against Mark Peterson will be officially filed in Jasper County Circuit Court on Tuesday, February 17.

The takeaway

This case underscores the importance of thorough legal strategies and the use of technology to uncover inconsistencies in forensic audits, which can lead to wrongful charges being filed. It serves as a cautionary tale about the potential pitfalls of relying too heavily on data without proper verification and oversight.