Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Grand jury indicts Springfield men for stealing guns from pawn shop

(From the U. S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri)

Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that four Springfield, Mo., area men were indicted by a federal grand jury today for stealing 21 handguns from an Ozark, Mo., pawn shop.

Daryl Bradley Maples, 27, Corey Lynn Downard, 32, and Matthew James Oakley, 23, all of Springfield, Mo., and Michael Cameron Heston, 25, of Republic, Mo., were charged in a four-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Springfield.

Today’s indictment alleges that Maples, Downard, Heston and Oakley aided and abetted each other to illegally enter Sutton Gun and Pawn, a licensed firearms dealer located at 3994 N. 20th St., Ozark, Mo., and steal 21 handguns on Dec. 21, 2012.

Maples is also charged with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The indictment alleges that Maples, having been convicted of a felony crime, was in possession of an F.N. 9 mm pistol, a Colt Canada .38-caliber revolver and assorted ammunition on Dec. 26, 2012. Maples is also charged with selling two stolen firearms – a Rossi .38-caliber revolver and a Smith & Wesson .357-caliber revolver – on Dec. 21, 2012.

Downard is also charged with being a felon in possession of firearms. The indictment alleges that Downard, having been convicted of a felony crime, was in possession of two Beretta .40-caliber pistols on Dec. 21, 2012.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition.

Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abram McGull II. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Ozark, Mo., Police Department and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.

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