February 6th, 2026 Local News
St. Francois Co., Mo. (KFMO) - Deputies with the St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department have arrested Adam Wayne Cureton and his mother, Carla Bell, following a traffic stop Thursday morning.
According to the Sheriff’s Department, deputies received information regarding Cureton’s whereabouts and located him at approximately 7:44 a.m. as a passenger in a vehicle driven by Bell. A deputy initiated a traffic stop after spotting the vehicle. Authorities say the vehicle briefly stopped in the roadway before continuing for about one mile, where it then came to a complete stop.
During the stop, deputies found Cureton on the floorboard of the vehicle, allegedly attempting to conceal himself. Cureton was taken into custody on his active warrants. Bell was also arrested and charged with hindering prosecution.
Records indicate deputies had been to Bell’s residence the day prior and spoke with her regarding Cureton’s active warrants and the provisions of Missouri Revised Statute 575.030, which outlines the offense of hindering prosecution. Both Cureton and Bell were transported to the St. Francois County Adult Detention Center for processing.
Under Missouri law, hindering prosecution involves actions taken to prevent the apprehension or prosecution of another person, including harboring or concealing an individual, providing transportation to avoid arrest, or otherwise obstructing law enforcement. The offense is classified as a Class A misdemeanor unless the underlying conduct involves a felony, in which case it may be charged as a Class E felony.
Cureton had previously been sought as part of the Sheriff’s Department’s “Warrant Wednesday” initiative on an active felony warrant for probation violation and was also wanted by the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole.