KC-area school administrator accused of intoxicated break-in at Lake of the Ozarks
An assistant superintendent at the Harrisonville School District faces charges in Camden County court after allegedly breaking into a resort bar in his underwear while attending an educator’s conference paid for by the district.
Joseph Ray Parkhurst is facing charges of first-degree trespassing and second-degree property damage, both misdemeanors, according to a Camden County court document.
The Harrisonville School District’s website lists Parkhurst as the district’s assistant superintendent of human resources and operations, a position he’s held since July 2023, according to a resume listed on his personal website.
“The district is looking into this, but as a personnel matter, we cannot comment any further at this time,” Jayden Love, the district’s director of communications, told The Star in an email.
At the time of his arrest, it’s believed Parkhurst was attending the Missouri Association of School Administrators Conference held at the Margaritaville Lake Resort at Lake of the Ozarks. According to social media, Harrisonville’s Superintendent, Josh Chastain, was honored at the conference on March 18 as an Emerging Superintendent.
A probable cause statement filed on March 18 said sheriff’s deputies in Camden County responded to the LandShark Bar & Grill at the resort just after 2 a.m., where staff reported that Parkhurst had allegedly broken into the building and caused what staff estimates to be more than $750 worth of damage.
The Star attempted to contact an attorney listed for Parkhurst, but was unable to reach them for comment. A message sent to the attorney’s work email was not immediately returned.
Bar employees said earlier in the evening, Parkhurst was intoxicated, in his underwear and asleep at the bar before security escorted him out at 1:45 a.m., the affidavit said.
According to its website, the bar typically closes at 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. The alleged incident occurred on a Wednesday.
Investigators believe that as the bar was closing, Parkhurst either hid somewhere in the establishment, or re-entered through a door and latched it behind him, the affidavit said.
Multiple used plastic cups, allegedly used by Parkhurst, were found in the bar, along with “half served pitchers of beer,” a broken margarita mix and empty beer cans, according to the affidavit. Also found were broken beer taps, a “knocked over” computer and turned on TV.
Deputies allege that when they attempted to speak with Parkhurst, they noticed a landline phone broken off a wall, a damaged light cover and a displaced roof tile.
Parkhurst was placed under arrest around 3 a.m and transported to the Camden County Adult Detention Center, where he was later released on a $1,000 cash bond, according to a bond receipt.
Deputies reported that at the time of his arrest, Parkhurst allegedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.164.
According to a 2023 post on the district’s Facebook page, Parkhurst began working as an administrator inside the Harrisonville school district in July of that year. The post said that Parkhurst previously had been the principal of Holden High School and before he got into leadership, he taught social studies and coached in the Belton and Sherwood School Districts.
He received his bachelor’s from Avila University, the post said, his master’s from William Woods University and his doctorate in educational leadership from Baker University.
In Tuesday’s election, voters in the Harrisonville School District will vote on “Prop One,” a $38 million school bond measure that would provide funds for safety and security, student opportunity and infrastructure projects.
