Cole County Deputy Mercy Gonzalez is no longer allowed to submit criminal referrals to the Cole County Prosecuting Attorney's Office after she pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges.

The prosecutor's office does not accept criminal referrals from law enforcement officers who are subject to any criminal diversion program or on probation, according to a letter that Prosecuting Attorney Locke Thompson wrote to Sheriff John P. Wheeler.

In 2023, Gonzalez drove through a red light at over 100 mph, with red and blue lights activated, and hit a vehicle in the intersection, according to past KOMU 8 reporting.

On Friday, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to operating a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner and failure to obey a traffic control device, both misdemeanors. She was charged wit

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