Detention hearing sought for Joplin Honkies member on federal weapons charge

A detention hearing for a Diamond man charged with illegal possession of a firearm is scheduled for 

10:45 a.m. Wednesday in U. S. District Court in Springfield.

Jason A. Duncan, 40, who told authorities he was a member of the Joplin Honkies gang, was indicted in June on three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

In a detention motion filed today, the U. S. Attorney's office details the three traffic stops that led to Duncan's indictment.

On August 19, 2024, the Seneca, Missouri, Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a truck being driven by and solely occupied by Jason DUNCAN. 

When the officer initially contacted DUNCAN, DUNCAN lied about his identity and attempted to walk away from the traffic stop while the officer was trying to determine DUNCAN’s true identity. The Seneca officer asked if there was anything illegal, or and drugs, or weapons in the vehicle and eventually DUNCAN admitted there was some guns under the backset, but claimed they belonged to his brother. 

DUNCAN was asked if he was a felon, and DUNCAN responded, “Yea.” 

Upon searching the vehicle, the officer located the following in the vehicle: 1. A Palmetto State Armory, PA-15 Multi .223/5.56 caliber, rifle; 2. A Taurus Int., PT111 Millennium Pro, 9mm, pistol; 3. A large amount of ammunition in the center console (.223 and 9mm); and 4. Multiple magazines, including four fully loaded 30 round magazines. 

 Further, the truck being driven by DUNCAN was determined to have been stolen out of Ralston, Nebraska. 

On October 3, 2024, detectives with the Springfield, Missouri, Police Department (“SPD”) conducted a traffic stop on a Nissan Titan being driven by and solely occupied by DUNCAN. When the officers initiated the traffic stop, the Titan slowed but did not stop. The vehicle then pulled over onto the east sidewalk and briefly stopped before making a right turn into the parking lot of the business located at 1930 North Glenstone and continued travelling slowly through the parking lot. The vehicle finally stopped on the parking lot near the main office building. 

While one detective made contact with DUNCAN, other detectives arrived to assist. One of the assisting detectives indicated that he observed a handgun on the parking lot, approximately 10 feet away from the truck’s passenger side door. Officers located a loaded Hi-Point, Model JCP, .40 caliber handgun on the parking lot. 

Based on the handgun’s location, it appeared that DUNCAN threw the handgun when he drove onto the sidewalk before pulling into the parking lot. 

In a post-Miranda interview, DUNCAN stated he had served time in prison for burglary, property damage, and assault charges. He stated he was aware that he could not possess a firearm. When asked about the Hi-Point pistol DUNCAN admitting that he threw the firearm when he saw that he was being pulled over. DUNCAN stated, “man, I got scared whenever I seen f---ing flashing lights behind me, man.” He further admitted that he was currently facing weapons charges in another county. DUNCAN was arrested for unlawful possession of a weapon. While en route to the Greene County, Missouri, Jail, DUNCAN indicated he was a member of the Joplin Honkies. 

 On January 23, 2025, Joplin, Missouri, Police Department (“JPD”) responded to Half of Half, in reference to a trespass and larceny. JPD contacted DUNCAN, who was found to have a folded knife attached to his pants pocket, a firearm magazine in his coin pocket, and a handgun in a holster on his right hip. DUNCAN initially lied about his identify causing JPD to release him from the scene. DUNCAN left in a Jeep Cherokee. A short time later, JPD realized that DUNCAN had lied about his identify and that the Jeep Cherokee that he had driven away in was reported stolen. 

JPD began looking for the stolen Jeep and for DUNCAN. They located both at a residence in Joplin, Missouri. DUNCAN exited the residence and was taken into custody. DUNCAN was searched, and officers located the firearm holster, a spare magazine in his right pocket, and cards and identification that did not belong to DUNCAN. 

The homeowner gave consent to the officers allowing them to search the residence. Officers located a Glock, 19 Gen 5, pistol on a bookcase by the back door that leads from the garage to the house. That Glock was confirmed as stolen. 

The homeowner stated that he had never seen DUNCAN before but saw DUNCAN with the firearm when he headed to the garage. The homeowner stated the firearm was not his and it belonged to DUNCAN. DUNCAN was arrested and taken to jail. When he was searched at the jail, he was found to have two syringes containing methamphetamine in his stocking cap. DUNCAN was fingerprinted at the jail, and his identify was confirmed as Jason DUNCAN.