Jonathan Shorman

News-Leader

The wife of a Nixa candidate for state representative who is active in his campaign has been charged with passing a bad check and is also a suspect in a stealing investigation at a local radio company.

Jonica Hope, 34, was charged June 19 in Greene County Circuit Court, accused of passing a bad check for $103.29 in December. The check was payable to Mattress Outlet, located on East Sunshine Street. The charge is a class A misdemeanor.

Hope, the wife of Michael Hope, has also been named a suspect in a stealing by deceit investigation at the Journal Broadcast Group of Springfield, a police report says. According to that report filed in November, the incident allegedly occurred between September and November.

The group operates several Springfield radio stations, including KSGF and KTTS.

Springfield police spokesperson Lisa Cox said police sent a felony case report to prosecutors May 27 to review for consideration of possible charges. As of Monday afternoon, no charges had been filed.

Cox said the investigation involved a felony amount, which is typically more than $500. She could not give the exact amount, however. Cox also said the suspect had been employed at Journal Broadcast Group.

A News-Leader reporter called a phone number for Michael Hope's campaign Monday and Jonica Hope answered. She confirmed she used to work for Journal Broadcast Group, but said she could not talk at the moment and would call back.

Jonica Hope did call later and said her attorney would reach out to the News-Leader, but she refused to give the name of her attorney. She declined to comment further until then.

"You're trying us in the paper and not in the court of law," Hope said.

According to her LinkedIn page, Jonica Hope worked at Journal Broadcast Group from July to November as a sales associate for KSGF and KTTS.

"Although my time with Journal was short-lived I learned to approach potential clients through various means while always being mindful of ways that I could help grow their business," she wrote.

Journal Broadcast Group general manager Rex Hansen was not immediately available for comment.

Jonica Hope's LinkedIn page also says she was a field director for Todd Akin's 2012 Senate campaign.

"During the primary and general election I was the 'face' of the campaign in Southwest Missouri. I served as a surrogate speaker for when Congressmen Akin could not be present to speak," the page says.

Michael Hope is running against Clayton Jones and Jered Taylor for the Republican nod in the 139th District. The winner of the August primary will almost certainly be elected state representative because there are no candidates from other parties.

In a previous interview with the News-Leader, Michael Hope said he thinks from a Christian worldview. On his campaign website, he writes that he wants to stop the erosion of liberties and rights. He has also been endorsed by Missouri Right to Life.

Jonica Hope has been publicly supportive of her husband's campaign, actively promoting it on her personal Facebook page. She was present in June when reporters interviewed Michael Hope at his home and she interjected from time to time, adding to her husband's answers to questions.