A preliminary hearing has been set in Greene County District Court for a Jefferson City Councilmember who is accused of extortion.

According to court documents, 77-year-old Larry Teeples was scheduled to have his initial appearance in magistrate court Wednesday, but he waived it through his attorney, Stephen Swanson. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9am February 13th at the Greene County Courthouse. Teeples faces a felony charge for extortion. The charge stems from an investigation by the Greene County Sheriff’s office following an alleged incident with the Jefferson Police Department.

Court documents show that the incident took place on January 2nd when Teeples argued with Police Chief Mark Clouse about a traffic stop involving Teeples’ granddaughter. In a statement from the sheriff’s secretary, Teeples allegedly told Clouse that he would not support the police department as a councilman unless the police department left his grandchild alone. In another statement given by Jefferson City Administrator Mike Palmer, Teeples had conversed with Palmer later that day saying he would have a hard time voting for anything police related.

Teeples then spoke with Greene County Sheriff Jack Williams on January 7th. Court documents show that Teeples admitted to Williams that he told Clouse “that over the years he has given all that they (the police department) wanted and from now on he is going to vote no on some of that stuff.”

Teeples was booked and released from the Greene County Jail on his own recognizance. When Raccoon Valley Radio reached out to Teeples, he declined to comment. Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.