MACON — A Bevier man has been charged with first-degree harassment, a class E felony, after authorities say he repeatedly contacted a juvenile despite being banned from the local school district’s property.
John R. Sparkman faces the single felony count in Macon County Circuit Court, case 26MA-CR00024. According to the probable cause statement filed by Cpl. Jesse Pantaleo of the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, Sparkman sent a text message, left a voicemail and taped a handwritten birthday note to the vehicle of a juvenile identified as P.W. on Jan. 5, 2026.
The vehicle was parked on a public street near the Bevier C-4 School District campus while the juvenile attended a ballgame, according to court documents.
Sparkman had been formally trespassed from all Bevier C-4 property and extracurricular events in September 2025 after the school board determined he had engaged in inappropriate conduct with a female student, including contacting her by phone, giving gifts and taking her vehicle to his residence, the probable cause statement states. A separate school district letter noted Sparkman had resigned in April 2025 for violating school board policy.
The charge carries a potential sentence of one to four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections or up to one year in the county jail, a fine of up to $10,000 or both.
Sparkman appeared in court March 12 with attorney K. Zwink. The case was continued to April 16 at 9 a.m. for a preliminary hearing setting before Judge Kristen Dawn Burks.