Joplin man sentenced to 10 years on kidnapping, weapons charges

Clayton Flowers, 32, Joplin, was sentenced to 10 years in prison during a hearing this morning in U. S. District Court in Springfield.

Flowers pleaded guilty March 25 to kidnapping and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

After he completes his sentence, Flowers will be on supervised release for five years.

The charge stemmed from a July 15, 2024 incident in which Flowers dragged a woman into a house, kicked her numerous times and threatened to burn the house down, according to the probable cause affidavit.

From the affidavit:

On July 15,2024, Newton County Sheriff's Office (NCSO) Deputy S. Mitchell responded to a residence in Joplin, Newton County, Missouri, a location within the Western District of Missouri, after Newton County Dispatch was advised that a male had barricaded himself inside the residence with a .22 caliber firearm and was threatening to burn down the residence.

Upon arrival, Deputy Mitchell identified the subject male as Clayton James FLOWERS (hereinafter "FLOWERS"). A witness on scene advised FLOWERS resided at this residence with his girlfriend, who is identified as Jane Doe, an adult female.

Jane Doe reported to Deputy Mitchell that FLOWERS drug her out of a vehicle and into the residence. Once inside the residence, while Jane Doe was still on the ground, FLOWERS kicked her several times.

On July 16,2024, NCSO Detectives D.l. Mace and T.J. Lombard responded back to FLOWERS's residence to further their investigation. The detectives contacted Jane Doe, and Jane Doe reiterated that FLOWERS had drug her out of a car and into the residence where he then assaulted her. 

Detective Mace asked Jane Doe for permission to enter the residence and Jane Doe allowed the detectives into the home. Inside the residence, Detective Mace observed a large hole in a living room wall he believed to be caused by a shotgun.

Detective Mace also observed damage to a curtain and the window behind it was broken out. The curtain appeared to be damaged by shotgun pellets.

Another apparent shotgun blast was located in the celling. Detective Mace observed a spent 12-gauge shotgun shell, an unused 12-gauge shell, and a .22 caliber round on a nightstand in a bedroom.