Detention hearing set for Carthage man on federal weapons charge

A December 22 detention hearing has been scheduled in U. S. District Court in Springfield for Phillip Jordan Neese, 33, Carthage whose indictment for being a felon in possession of a firearm was unsealed earlier this week.

In a detention motion filed today, the U. S. attorney's office described the allegations against Neese, detailed his criminal history and said that he had waved the gun at several juveniles.

From the motion:

The evidence against the defendant is overwhelming and he is likely to be sentenced to a significant term of imprisonment should he be found guilty, and further, the defendant has shown he is unlikely to comply with any conditions this court imposes for bond. 

The evidence should this case go to trial is that on or about September 17, 2025, the defendant was contacted by law enforcement in regards to a report of unlawful use of a weapon incident. 

When approached by law enforcement, the defendant was observed placing a handgun behind the corner of a house; the firearm was subsequently recovered. During a pat down search, the defendant was found to have a pipe used for smoking methamphetamine and fentanyl in his pocket. 

The defendant was interviewed regarding the aforementioned unlawful use of a weapon incident and admitted to displaying a weapon at several juveniles; he also admitted to using methamphetamine prior to his arrest and he knew that was a felon, unable to possess firearms.

Furthermore, the defendant has been on and off of probation & parole for several felony offenses, including three separate burglary convictions, and a resisting arrest conviction. While on probation, the defendant was cited for several failures to abide by the conditions of his probation, in which the court had to issue warrants for his arrest.

Neese is currently being held in the Greene County Jail.