A resident of Horseshoe Bend, Ark., pleaded not guilty to a charge of felony first-degree property damage after allegedly using a rock to break five windows Dec. 8 at Pizza Shack on Porter Wagoner Boulevard in northern West Plains.
A warrant with a $5,000 cash or corporate surety bond was issued Dec. 20 for Hunter V. Townsley, 25. Court records show he was arrested on the warrant the following day. The case is being prosecuted by Howell County Prosecutor Mike Hutchings and Assistant Prosecutor Heath Hardman.
Records show he was arraigned on the property damage charge this morning and pleaded not guilty; he is to apply for a public defender, and a counsel status hearing has been set for Feb. 13. The case is being heard by Associate 37th Circuit Judge R. David Ray.
West Plains Police Detective Joe Neuschwander said in a statement submitted to prosecutors that he investigated the incident after the owner of Pizza Shack reported the damages, which turned out be worth an estimated $5,000.
Neuschwander added that a mutual acquaintance texted the victim that Townsley noticed messages on her phone, became angry and left their shared home, making Townsley a suspect.
When surveillance videos were reviewed, the footage reportedly showed Townsley approaching the camera with a large rock between 3:19 and 3:27 a.m. that day, then throwing large rocks at the camera and windows from outside the building.
It was discovered Townsley had been admitted to a medical facility and was not available for an investigative interview, Neuschwander said.
Court records also show a protection order against Townsley was served to him at 9:30 the evening of Dec. 8, and he is alleged to have almost immediately violated it four times within the next 11 minutes by calling the person who was granted the order against him.
Townsley was issued a summons to make an initial appearance on a misdemeanor charge of violation of an order of protection for an adult on Jan. 22, according to court records. Hutchings and Hardman are also prosecuting that case.
