Federal weapons charge filed against Joplin man

A Joplin man was charged today with being a felon in illegal possession of a firearm.

The charges, which were filed in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri, stem from a July 15 incident in which Clayton Flowers (DOB 1993) allegedly dragged a woman into a house, kicked her numerous times and threatened to burn the house down.

The Newton County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed kidnapping and domestic assault charges against Flowers.

The allegations against Flowers were detailed in the probable cause 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 himselfinside 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. 

Jane Doe told the law enforcement that during the assault on the July 15,2024, FLOWERS had retrieved a shotgun, pointed it at her, and threatened to kill Jane Doe. Jane Doe reported that FLOWERS then handed her the shotgun and demanded she shoot him. 

When she refused, FLOWERS held a knife on her and demanded she shoot him again. Jane Doe refused again and was able to run outside with the shotgun. 

Detective Lombard noticed a security camera inside of the residence, but Jane Doe reported FLOWERS had destroyed the video. However, on a later date, law enforcement obtained screenshots of the video surveillance footage. 

The images captured depicted FLOWERS with a shotgun and a door in the background without a hole in the door. The next image depicted FLOWERS still in possession of the shotgun and the door now had a hole in it. Another screenshot depicted Jane Doe standing in a closet with her hands up while FLOWERS pointed the shotgun at her. FLOWERS was also observed aiming down the barrel and with his finger on the trigger of the shotgun. 

Detective Mace seized the 12-gauge, which was identified as a Revolution 300F with no observable serial number. On July 17, 2024, Detective Mace conducted a post-Miranda interview with FLOWERS. After being shown a picture of him pointing the shotgun at Jane Doe, FLOWERS admitted to removing the shotgun from the closet and pointing it at Jane Doe.

After Flowers was charged in Newton County, Prosecuting Attorney William Lynch noted Flowers history included three convictions for domestic assault and one for robbery.