A Harrisonville School District assistant superintendent is facing misdemeanor charges after an incident at Margaritaville Lake Resort in Osage Beach that led to a police response, property damage and a later arrest.
Court records show Joseph Parkhurst was charged with first-degree trespassing and second-degree property damage, and his first court appearance is set for April 21.
The case stems from a March 18 incident at the Lake of the Ozarks.
According to court documents, deputies were called to the resort after staff reported damage inside the LandShark Bar.
When they arrived, staff said Parkhurst was found intoxicated, asleep and in his underwear, and security escorted him out.
Deputies later noted signs of damage inside and around the bar area, including broken beer taps, knocked-over equipment and other damaged property.
The probable cause statement said he was arrested at the scene and later taken to the Camden County Adult Detention Center.
Parkhurst was reportedly heavily intoxicated when deputies made contact with him, and court records list a blood alcohol content of 0.164.
The probable cause statement also said he entered or remained inside a closed business and damaged or destroyed alcohol and other items while inside.
In one version of the filing, deputies said there were no signs of forced entry, which led them to believe he either re-secured the door or remained hidden inside after the bar closed.
The incident has also drawn attention because it happened during a Missouri Association of School Administrators conference at Margaritaville.
District payment records confirmed that Parkhurst was reimbursed for the conference registration, and the event was held at the resort from March 18 to March 20.
Parkhurst is listed on the Harrisonville Schools website as the district’s assistant superintendent for human resources and operations, placing him in one of the district’s top administrative roles.
The school district has not said whether Parkhurst has been placed on leave. When asked about his status, the district said,
“The district is looking into this, but as a personnel matter, we cannot comment any further at this time.”
That response leaves open questions about his future with the district, but for now the criminal case itself is moving forward in Camden County court.
For Harrisonville Schools, the situation is especially sensitive because it involves a senior administrator and a trip connected to professional training.
The criminal charges are misdemeanors, but the underlying allegations have already turned the case into a public embarrassment for the district.
The April 21 court date will be the next major step as the case moves from arrest records and court filings into the courtroom.
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