A Maries County man was arrested Nov. 5 and charged with multiple counts of assault, property damage and unlawful use of a weapon following a dispute over a loaned vehicle that ended with one man shot in the head.

On Nov. 5, Maries County deputies arrested James Cain, 60, for an incident that happened on Oct. 22.

Cain was charged by Maries County Prosecutor Tony Skouby with 1st degree assault, two counts of armed criminal action, second degree assault, property damage, and unlawful use of a weapon. 

Charges stemmed from an Oct. 22 incident when Chief Deputy Scott John responded to a dispute on Maries County Road 604. The reporting party was attempting to retrieve a vehicle he had loaned to Debbie Gieck. According to the vehicle owner and another male friend, the two were waiting for Gieck to remove her belongings from the vehicle when Cain went into the residence and returned with a hammer.

Cain proceeded to bust the windshield and side windows on the vehicle before going back into the residence and returning with a black powder shotgun. He fired a shot at one of the male subjects who was standing by his truck. The shot from the blast struck the driver of the truck in the head and littered the vehicle with pellets. Both subjects fled in their truck. Cain fired a second shot at the retreating vehicle as they were driving away.  

While en route, John was informed of a second emergency call reporting shots fired at Maries County Road 604 and that the two male subjects who were retrieving the vehicle had left to a safe location.

John, Deputy Jeff Younger, Deputy Tim Edwards, and Detective Mark Harp met the male subjects at the Crossroads Convenience Store, at the intersection of Highways 42 and 133 in Brinktown, where one male subject had been shot in the head with what appeared to be shot from a shotgun.

The male subject was treated by emergency medical services as deputies responded to the address. However, Cain and Gieck had already left.

Harp applied for a search warrant of the house to retrieve the hammer and fire arm.

Cain was arrested on Nov. 5 after John located him at a residence in Miller County.

Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman said he is proud of his staff for their hard work.

“Their willingness to run to the report of danger, ensuring the victim received proper medical treatment, thorough investigation of the incident, then quick action to arrest the suspect once his location was determined is a testament to their dedication of service to our county,” Heitman said.

Maries County deputies continued to make four more arrests in various incidents.

The sheriff reported on Nov. 7 that his deputies made two arrests in an older case.

“After a lengthy investigation, another burglary has been solved and two people have been arrested,” Heitman said. “Ashton Cook and Zachary Albert have been arrested, both from the Bland area, have been arrested for stealing and burglary in the 2nd degree.”

According to Office of Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman’s Facebook page, Deputy Tim Edwards and Deputy Shannon Fannon responded to the initial report of the burglary and quickly developed leads that led Edwards to identify Cook as a suspect.

“After a voluntary Computer Voice Stress Analysis (CVSA) by their certified analyst Chief John was able to determine Cook was being deceptive on certain interview questions,” the sheriff reported.

John was able to obtain a confession from Cook and get the name of his accomplice.

Albert was later brought in but refused to answer questions during his interview.

“Great teamwork by our staff on this case,” Heitman said. “While we’re unable to locate any of the stolen tools for the victim, we are confident the Maries County Prosecutor, Tony Skouby, will hold them accountable.”

Heitman added that he would like to bring attention to a recurring issue.

“Ashton Cook was released from the Missouri Department of Correction on parole just two weeks before this burglary and theft,” Heitman said.

Terry Hodges, 34, of Owensville, was arrested on Oct. 21 by Deputy Tyler Shepherd during a traffic stop on Highway 28 in Belle.

Shepherd saw a vehicle violation and stopped the vehicle.

“After developing a reasonable suspicion, Deputy Shepherd obtained consent to search the vehicle where he located a prescription bottle which contained suspected methamphetamines,” the sheriff reported. “A field test of the substance in fact tested positive for methamphetamines and Hodges was arrested.”

He has been charged with possession of a controlled substance, a Class D felony, by Skouby, Maries County prosecutor.

A traffic stop on Nov. 6 led to the arrest of Scott Jones.

“On Nov. 6, Deputy Jeff Younger conducted a traffic stop on Highway 28,” Heitman reported. “The driver, Scott Jones, had a suspended Missouri driver’s license and an active warrant for possession of a controlled substance.”

Jones consented to a vehicle search. Three firearms were located, including a shotgun, rifle, and stolen handgun from St. Louis County. All three firearms were seized.

Jones was arrested for the stolen handgun and his active warrant and transported to the Maries County Jail.