St. Mary Mayor Adam Bequette has been charged with felony stealing and first-degree tampering, according to documents filed in Ste. Genevieve County Circuit Court.
The charge follows an investigation of the theft of a dead man’s mini skid steer.
A probable cause statement indicates that the investigation of Bequette, 42, by the Missouri State Highway Patrol began when the heirs of the deceased were unable to locate the mini skid steer when they went to the man’s property to move it to another location.
According to the probable cause statement, a property owner on Cemetery Lane in St. Mary died on March 24, 2025, in Ste. Genevieve County. The deceased owned a Ditch Witch mini skid steer, with a value of approximately $18,000.
Two adult children of the deceased, who were his heirs, traveled to the deceased father’s property on May 21, 2025, and discovered the skid steer was missing. During interviews conducted with Bequette and a St. Mary city worker, investigators learned that the mayor had instructed city workers to remove the skid steer from Maloney’s property because it was blocking the city’s access to water lines.
Utilizing a truck owned by the City of St. Mary and a utility trailer owned by Bequette, two city employees removed the skid steer from Maloney’s property to a secure “impound” lot owned by the City of St. Mary.
City employees stated during an interview that the skid steer was utilized to clean up some rock at the city water and sewer property. A city employee also stated that he performed some “maintenance” on the skid steer, including checking fluid levels, during the time the skid steer was at their facility.
Bequette stated that he sent certified mail and attempted several phone calls to one of the heirs to inform him that the skid steer had been relocated; however, the mayor was unable to provide any documentation or evidence of the attempted contact with the heir.
Interviews with both heirs confirmed that Bequette had not attempted to contact either of them regarding the skid steer.
The location where the skid steer was removed showed that the machinery was not parked in a way that would obstruct city utilities. Additionally, the skid steer could have been moved since it had fuel and the key in the ignition, if there had been an urgent need to do so.
On June 4, 2025, the Ditch Witch skid steer was found at the St. Mary Water and Sewer Department property and was returned to the second heir. City employees told investigators that Mayor Bequette stated he would not go back to jail regarding the theft of the skid steer.
Bequette is scheduled to appear before Judge Timothy W. Inman at 9 a.m. July 16 for his initial appearance on the two felony charges at the Ste. Genevieve County Courthouse.
