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Man accused of firing shots after bar fight to be held without bail

Justin Helms
Justin Helms
A St. Joe man who left a fight at a local bar only to return and fire gunshots into the air will be held without bail.

Justin Helms is charged with a class-e felony of unlawful use of a weapon while intoxicated. In court documents, police say Helms and two other men got into a disturbance with numerous other unidentified people at the HiHo Bar at 1817 Frederick, during the early morning hours of May 12. The men left and got into a truck. But according to the affidavit, Helms returned with a handgun and fired “about three rounds into the air.”

The men then left the area, but investigators say when officers made contact with Helms later on he had a blood alcohol content level of .160%.

Helms appeared by video in the courtroom of Associate Circuit Judge Keith Marquart Tuesday morning. Judge Marquart refused to set bail in the case, ruling that Helms poses a danger to the community. The probable-cause affidavit also notes that he has been arrested in the past for failure to appear in court.

Judge Marquart scheduled the case for a preliminary hearing docket June 2. Helms will apply for a public defender.

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