‘I won’t let you go and be homeless’ Judge orders man to remain in jail until son takes him home

During the May 21, Ozark County Circuit Court, Judge Craig Carter heard from 13 defendants, including Timothy Kendrick of Springfield.

Kendrick is charged with driving while revoked in January 2023 and was originally arraigned in circuit court on Aug. 9, 2023. The case was continued because of the death of Kendrick’s father and Kendrick’s continued physical rehabilitation from a stroke. After the case was continued several more times over the next two years because of Kendrick’s health and hospital stays and failing to appear in court several times, Kendrick was discovered to be in the Greene County Jail in May 2025, where he was serving a 120-day sentence for stealing a 2001 maroon Dodge truck in Springfield in December 2024.

Kendrick told the court he stole the truck “cause my daughter had conservatorship and I got tired” of being homeless. Kendrick said he found the truck with keys in it and stole it and then realized it was “a piece of crap without a clutch.”

Judge Carter asked him why he stole a truck without a clutch. “You don’t get to test drive it when you steal it,” Kendrick answered.

After learning that Kendrick still had no home to go to, Judge Carter ordered that Kendrick remain in the Ozark County Jail until someone could get him. “If you get your son to come and sign for you I’ll let you go. But I’m not going to let you go and be homeless.”

Public defender Chase Opolka was appointed to defend Kendrick in the Ozark County case.

Kendrick appeared before the court on June 18 accompanied by his son. 

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‘I won’t let you go and be homeless’ Judge orders man to remain in jail until son takes him home