Two area men have been charged after alleged incidents involving firearms. A third suspect was charged with domestic assault in connection with one of the incidents.
Cory L. Rush, 48, Ava, allegedly pointed a 9-mm handgun at two individuals and threatened to shoot them from his kitchen window as the victims were standing outside an Ava apartment building where Rush and the victims live.
He is charged with two counts each of first-degree assault or attempt and armed criminal action, all felonies.
Ava Police Sgt. Gabe Stroud, in court documents, said he spoke with the victims, who reported seeing a green laser pointed in their direction from Rush's rear kitchen window as they stood outside their next door neighbor's apartment. A woman said she saw the laser pointed at her chest while Rush verbally threatened to shoot her, tapping a gun against his window. She reportedly told the officer when Rush was confronted, he said "It's not loaded."
A man gave a similar account of the incident, and both reported Rush threatened to kill the woman and were in fear for their lives, not knowing whether or not the gun was loaded. A witness reportedlysaid she was sitting outside a nearby apartment when she saw the incident, noting there have been other instances where Rush had pointed the gun in their general direction and she was fearful for her life.
Rush, while speaking with another officer at the scene, reportedly admitted to pointing the gun from the window but claimed it wasn't loaded. An SCCY 9mm pistol and two boxes of 9mm ammo, plus a full magazine of 9mm ammo and a box of .22-caliber ammo were seized, Stroud reported, noting the weapon wasn't loaded when it was seized.
The defendant is held on a $25,000 cash-only bond, to be released on the condition that he possess no firearms or ammunition, and to have no contact with the victims or be at the apartment complex. A bond reduction hearing has been set for Thursday in the case, before Associate 44th Circuit Judge Elizabeth Bock, court records show.
Rush is being represented by Christopher Hatley and the case is being prosecuted by Douglas County Prosecutor Matthew Weatherman.
Rush is scheduled for a counsel status hearing on Thursday before 44th Judicial Associate Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Bockman, court records show.
Jason B. Guidry, 47, Mtn. View, was charged with a count each of discharging a firearm into a home and unlawful use of a weapon by exhibiting it, both felonies, after allegedly firing a gun inside a house following an earlier alleged domestic assault on a family member.
One of the bullets exited the house toward another house and a road, placing bystanders "at risk of serious injury or death,” said authorities.
Mtn. View Police Lt. Trenton Roberts stated in court documents he arrived at the scene on July 29 after a report of shots fired and spoke with two women who pointed out Guidry, sitting in a nearby pickup truck, as the suspect.
Guidry reportedly told the deputies there were firearms in the vehicle, which he exited unarmed and without incident.
A man and woman then approached Roberts from the house and the man, later identified as Logan P. Clark, 25, of Mtn. View, told him he had been in a fight with his wife and had pushed and shoved hert.
Clark pointed out a hole in the wall of the exterior of the house and said it was where a bullet had exited, and an examination of the inside of the house revealed a hole in an interior wall and another in the ceiling near the first one.
When asked if Guidry fired the weapon a second time, Clark said he didn't know because after the first shot he "jumped out of his seat." According to Clark, Guidry fired the weapon to scare him and no one was standing in the area where the gun was aimed. The path of the stray bullet was in the direction of the street and a house across the street, but there was no report of damage or injuries from the stray bullet, Roberts said.
A loaded Ruger 9mm handgun with a round in the chamber was reportedly confiscated from Guidry and two 9mm shell casings were found in the house. Guidry also reportedly admitted he'd had two beers, including one while he was driving to the incident location, but refused to provide a breath sample after exhibiting signs of intoxication including bloodshot, watery eyes and smelling like intoxicants, Roberts stated.
Clark is charged with felony third-degree domestic assault, and reportedly told investigating officer Dylan Vice he and his wife had gotten into an argument over a vehicle, and he "smacked" a phone out of her hand and left.
The victim, however, stated Clark pushed her down several times and she hit him several times. According to the victim’s statement to police, the two then continued to physically fight each other until she "decided she had enough" and left to go to a friend's house.
Vice reported the victim had visible scratches to the inside of her right arm, down the right side of her back, on both upper thighs and on her right shoulder.
Bond for each man was set at $10,000, and they both bonded out July 30, court records show. During an initial appearance held Monday, Guidry pleaded not guilty and said he has appleid for a public defender to represent him; he is next set to appear Sept. 16 before Associate 37th Circuit Judge R. David Ray for a counsel status hearing, the records show. Clark likewise made an initial appearance before Ray on Monday and entered a plea of not guilty. A preliminary hearing has been set for Sept. 17, with Assistant Public Defender Micah Jones representing him.
Guidry's case is being prosecuted by Howell County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Hutchings and Clark's is being prosecuted by Howell County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Heath Hardman.
