Probable cause: Noel man tampered with witness by making five calls from jail phone

In less than one month, Matthew Wayne Rash, 34, Noel, has been charged with domestic assault, stalking, violating a protection order, driving while intoxicated as a prior offender and stealing.

For those acts, Rash has been confined to the McDonald County Detention Center where, according to a probable cause statement filed Thursday in McDonald County Circuit Court, he has continued to commit crimes.

The McDonald County Prosecuting Attorney's office filed a felony tampering with a witness charge against Rash, claiming he used a jail phone to call the woman who was the alleged victim in the domestic assault, stalking and protection order violation cases and tried to convince her not to testify against him.

All five calls were recorded.

In each call Rash made to {the woman} Rash numerous times demands that {she} drop the charges against him. During these conversations between Rash and {the woman} , Rash uses a very threating manner, elevated voice, and curses. However, no actual, specific threats are made by Rash.

According to the probable cause statement, Rash offered the woman, who is living in her car, a place to live if she didn't testify.

The charges against Rash are not anything new, according to the probable cause statement in the domestic assault case. He was convicted of assault in 2010 in McDonald County, violating a protection order in 2012 in Barry County and violating a protection order in 2016 in McDonald County.

Online court records show that in addition to the alleged crimes committed by Rash against the woman, he is currently awaiting trial on two other felony charges in Newton County.

The Neosho Police Department arrested Rash on a felony possession of a controlled substance charge May 11, 2023. Nearly a year and a half has passed and Rash has yet to have a preliminary hearing. Online Newton County Circuit Court records show the hearing is scheduled for February 3.

Rash's other Newton County Case dates back to 2022 when the Neosho Police Department arrested him for driving while intoxicated.

The case was delayed four times when Rash showed up without an attorney.

On the fifth time, not only did Rash still not have an attorney, but he also failed to show and a warrant was issued for his arrest by Judge Anna Christina Rhoades with bond set at $250 cash only.

After Rash was picked up, he asked to have his bond reduced. Judge Rhoades denied the request.

Rash finally hired an attorney, but no hearings have been held since, according to online records. His next hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. December 16.