A teenager charged in connection with a shooting at an underage drinking party in January appeared in court Monday.

In court documents, Sheriff’s investigators described a party during the early morning hours of January 22 in the area of S.E. Mt. Zion Road. According to a court affidavit, 20-year-old Justice Joiner was shot in the leg during a disturbance at the party. Joiner suffered injuries that required multiple surgeries.

William Dowlen of Wathena, Kan. appeared before Circuit Judge Patrick Robb for arraignment on one class-e felony count of unlawful use of a weapon. His lawyer waived formal reading of the complaint and entered a plea of not guilty. The case was also scheduled for a trial docket call July 21.

Dowlen, 17, remains in custody with bail set at $25,000 with a $5,000 cash deposit. Judge Robb scheduled a hearing June 26 at which he will be asked to reduce bail in the case.

A two-vehicle crash on I-229 in Andrew County sent a woman to the hospital Saturday.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Ashley Donelson, 23 of St. Joseph was driving a 1999 Dodge Ram Pickup and George Furge, 34 of St. Joseph was driving a 1993 Ford Ranger, both were heading southbound on I-229. The crash report stated around 5 p.m. at the 12.2 mile marker, Furge’s vehicle hit the rear of Donelson’s vehicle. Donelson’s vehicle went off the west side of the highway, down an embankment and hit a tree. Furge’s vehicle went off the east side of the roadway and came to rest in the median.

Donelson was taken by ambulance to Mosaic Life Care for treatment of what was described as a moderate injury. Her vehicle was listed as totaled, Furge’s as having sustained extensive damage. Donalson was not reported to be wearing a seat belt. Furge was reported to be wearing a seat belt.  Both vehicles were towed from the scene.

A teenager was injured Sunday in a one-vehicle crash just southeast of Cameron.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Emily Akey, 16 of Cameron was driving a 2004 Ford F-250 westbound on Rt. HH around 12:40 p.m. when her vehicle traveled off the north side of the roadway. The patrol said Akey overcorrected and then the vehicle went off the south side of the road and came to rest on its wheels against an embankment. Akey was taken by ambulance to Cameron Regional Medical Center for what was described as a moderate injury.  The vehicle was listed as having received extensive damage. Akey was reported to be wearing a seat belt.

A St. Joseph man is accused of being a felon in possession of a firearm after allegedly shooting a handgun inside a home on the south side of town.

Christopher Sands, 34 is charged in Buchanan County with a felony of unlawful possession of a firearm.

According to court documents filed in the case, Sands is accused of firing a handgun Friday at a home in the 200 block of Fulkerson.

“According to reports and statements taken, the defendant possessed a .22 caliber handgun on his person in his waist band. The defendant shot the .22 caliber handgun off inside of the residence,” said Det. Briana Mendell with the St. Joseph Police Department. “The defendant has prior arrest for DWI, DWS and assault. The defendant has prior convictions for robbery and vandalism.”

Sands is being held on $25,000 bail. He’s due in court Tuesday for an arraignment.

A St. Joseph man is facing a felony after allegedly severely punching and kicking a man last month on the north end of town.

Tri Tran, 20 is charged in Buchanan County with a felony of third-degree assault.

According to court documents, May 18 in the 2800 block of St. Joseph Avenue around 4 p.m. Tran is accused of assaulting a man while he was sitting on a bench by punching him in the face repeatedly.

“The suspect also kicked the victim in the head causing the victim to be treated at the hospital,” said Det. Greg Ogdahl.

Tran is currently being held without bail in the Buchanan County Jail. He’s due in court Tuesday for an arraignment.

According to court documents, Tran appears to have a criminal history in Buchanan County. In 2015 he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor of making a terrorist threat which lead to the lockdown of Lafayette High School. He was sentenced to serve one year in the Buchanan County Jail in that case. In February of this year, Tran pleaded guilty to a 2016 misdemeanor for tampering with a motor vehicle and was sentenced to 42 days in the Buchanan County Jail.

A St. Joseph man appeared in court Friday on upgraded charges stemming from the shooting of two men last year.

Owen Roberts, 33 is now charged with two class-a felony counts of first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action. He faces decades in prison if convicted on charges stemming from the shootings of Ricky Snedden and Terry Lee Madewell. As we reported, the shooting happened May 15, 2016  in the area of 924 Prospect Ave. The victims sustained serious injuries in the shootings.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Bachman told the judge the original case filed last year will soon be dismissed in favor of the new complaint filed earlier this week. Bachman told the judge that the defendant insists on taking the case to trial, so they’ve refiled with enhanced charges.

Roberts on Friday told Associate Circuit Judge Keith Marquart that he had complained five times about ineffective legal counsel. Judge Marquart said no such complaints had been received in his court, and that such complaints are typically considered after a case is resolved. Online court records do show five letters written to Circuit Judge Patrick Robb, the judge in the original case.

Judge Marquart advised Roberts to apply for a public defender. Marquart scheduled the new case for preliminary hearing June 30 at 11 am, and scheduled a counsel-status check next week. The judge continues to deny bail.

Roberts is being held without bail in the Buchanan County Jail.