Johnson Announces Several Felonies in Charles Nate Bradley Trooper Indictment
Jackson County prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced the charles nate bradley trooper indictment on Monday morning, saying Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper Charles “Nate” Bradley was charged with several felonies in a towing corruption scheme. Prosecutors allege he used his position to help towing companies profit from stolen vehicles while accepting gifts in exchange for violating his duty.
Bradley surrendered to law enforcement on Friday, May 15, and bonded out shortly after. Johnson said, “A badge is a symbol of responsibility and public trust. And when that trust is betrayed, there must be accountability,” as the case moved from accusation to court filing.
Bradley’s Role In Troop A
The Highway Patrol told KCTV5 that Bradley had been assigned to the Division of Drug and Crime Control as a criminal investigator for MSHP Troop A. He had served with the Missouri State Highway Patrol since 1997, and prosecutors tied the indictment to conduct they say affected the handling of stolen vehicles.
The indictment states that Bradley intentionally delayed recovery of stolen vehicles and allowed someone to recover them on behalf of law enforcement. Court documents also accuse him of retaining a stolen necklace valued at $25,000 or more and concealing it to impair a burglary investigation.
Picerno On Prior Cases
Kansas City attorney John Picerno said cases involving Bradley will be reviewed carefully because of questions about his credibility. He said, “Any case that he’s involved in, dating back a number of years now, is going to be looked at with a fine-toothed comb and gone over,” and added that cases relying on him as a central witness could face hard scrutiny.
Picerno said, “And certainly, if he’s a central key witness and his credibility was, let’s say, for instance, in most cases, if it’s a one witness case, potentially, and his credibility was the central factor in that kind of a case, then any convictions that came from those convictions are going to be looked at very hard.” He also said, “And I know that people are going to be attempting to set aside those convictions.”
May 5 Leave And May 15 Surrender
Bradley was placed on unpaid leave on May 5 before surrendering on Friday, May 15. Court documents also accuse him of damaging a 2017 Alfa Romeo by removing valve stems or puncturing tires, adding another count to the state’s case against a trooper who had been a lead investigator for predatory towing cases.
The practical issue for anyone connected to past cases is not the indictment alone but the possible reach of Bradley’s role in those matters. If his credibility was central, Picerno said those convictions may be tested case by case, and the review will focus on the evidence already in the record rather than the patrol badge he once wore.
