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East Prairie man facing multiple felony charges pleads not guilty
CHARLESTON, Mo. —An East Prairie man facing felony domestic, drug and weapons charges waived his formal arraignment and entered a not-guilty plea Wednesday during an appearance before Judge S. Rob Barker in Mississippi County Court in Charleston.
Van Owens, 52, of East Prairie was booked into the Mississippi County Detention Center on the following charges and bonds of domestic assault, second degree, $750,000 cash only; kidnapping/facilitating a felony; armed criminal action; unlawful use of a weapon; possession of a controlled substance, $5,000 concurrent with cash-only bond, according to Mississippi County Sheriff Britton Ferrell. Owens also had an outstanding warrant from East Prairie Police Department for driving while revoked/suspended, $5,000 cash/surety and resisting/interfering with arrest, $500 cash only; and a New Madrid County warrant for possession of controlled substance, $300 cash only.
According to Ferrell, at about 6 p.m. June 22, a deputy with the sheriff’s office responded to an assault call in East Prairie. The victim said they were allegedly assaulted by a male identified as Owens. The victim told the deputy Owens became angry because he couldn’t find his dope. Deputy Hall was told Owens began to throw things and allegedly hit the victim in the chin with an ashtray. Owens also reportedly took the victim's cell phone and threatened to use a crossbow if they tried to leave.
An arrest warrant was issued, and Owens was taken into custody the next day. Owens is being held at the Mississippi County Detention Center.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. July 14 at the courthouse in Charleston.