Dedication and determination on behalf of the Bates County Detectives connected the crimes to a potential suspect after news reports were shared on Social Media. Bates County Detectives were contacted by Detectives in Iowa about the same male in the same clothing also being caught on Video Burglarizing School in their location.
A multiple state investigation began and working with outside agencies a connection to Bates County was made. Eventually a search warrant was obtained by Arkansas Investigators for Barton's Residence.
The Case showed that Barton extensively researched his targets and law enforcement in the areas in advance. While many agencies participated in the investigation the Wapello Count (Iowa) Sheriff's Office and the FBI lead the investigation. -Courtesy Bates County Sheriff's Office
Official release from the United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Missouri:
ST. LOUIS – A man from Arkansas has been indicted in St. Louis and accused of burglarizing more than 20 rural schools and businesses in Missouri and Iowa.
Curtis Lee Barton, 40, was indicted Wednesday in U.S. District Court in St. Louis on one count of conspiracy to transport stolen property in interstate commerce and three counts of interstate transportation of stolen property.
The indictment says Barton and a co-conspirator stole a total of at least $50,000 from May 2023 through April 2025. Some of the money stolen from schools had been set aside for impoverished children and for the Special Olympics, the indictment says.
The indictment lists several examples of Missouri schools that were burglarized, including the Feb. 25, 2025, theft of about $5,752 from a school in Lewistown, the April 22, 2025, theft of about $13,000 from a school in Brookfield, and the April 26, 2025, theft of $4,000 from a school in Shelbyville. On April 26, 2025, Barton also stole about $1,000 from a safe in an Adair County school, the indictment says.
The indictment says Barton researched both his targets and the sheriff’s offices or police departments in those areas in advance. He broke into the schools in the middle of the night to avoid detection, the indictment says.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The FBI and the Wapello County (Iowa) Iowa Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman is prosecuting the case.
