Dunklin County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ryan Dicus announced that on February 9th, the Honorable Joshua Underwood sentenced James Clopton, 36, of Malden, after a jury trial on November 13th, 2025.
Clopton was sentenced to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on each of two counts of Class D felony Aggravated Fleeing, five years for Class D felony Stealing, and four years on each of two counts of Class E felony Resisting Arrest. The Court ordered the sentences to run concurrently.
The charges stem from a February incident in Malden in which Clopton was observed driving with a defective headlight and exceeding the posted speed limit. An officer with the Malden Department of Public Safety initiated a traffic stop, but Clopton accelerated and fled into a residential neighborhood. He eventually abandoned the vehicle at his residence and fled on foot. The vehicle was towed but was reported missing from the tow lot the following morning.
Later that day, a Dunklin County deputy observed Clopton driving the same vehicle. When the deputy activated emergency lights and siren, Clopton again fled at a high rate of speed, abandoned the vehicle behind a residence, and fled on foot into a wooded area. He was ultimately located and taken into custody with the assistance of a drone equipped with thermal imaging technology.
“Each year, high-speed pursuits claim hundreds of lives, including law enforcement officers and innocent members of the public,” Dicus said. “In this case, officers relied on their training and available technology to safely resolve the situation.”
Dicus added, “The Court carefully weighed all relevant factors in imposing this sentence. The sentence appropriately balances Mr. Clopton’s limited and dated criminal history against the seriousness of the offenses and the risk of reoffending. It sends a clear message that endangering the public by fleeing from law enforcement in a motor vehicle will result in meaningful consequences.”
The case was investigated by the Malden Department of Public Safety, the Dunklin County Sheriff’s Office, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.