U.S. Department
of Justice
Republic Man Sentenced for Stealing Guns from Pawn Shop
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Republic, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for stealing 23 firearms during a burglary at an Ozark, Mo., pawn shop.
Michael Cameron Heston, 26, of Republic, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to five years and six months in federal prison without parole. The court also ordered Heston to pay $5,900 in restitution for damages related to the theft of firearms and the breaking and entering of the business.
On March 31, 2015, Heston pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting in the theft of firearms from a licensed firearm dealer. Co-defendants Daryl Bradley Maples, 28, Corey Lee Downard, 33, and Matthew James Oakley, 24, all of Springfield, have pleaded guilty to the same charge. Maples was sentenced on April 16, 2015, to six years in federal prison without parole and ordered to pay $5,900 in restitution (for which he is jointly and severally liable with Heston).
Heston, Maples, Downard and Oakley each admitted that they broke into Sutton Gun and Pawn, 3994 N. 20th St., Ozark, at 2:16 a.m. on Dec. 21, 2012. Maples (who was previously employed at the store) admitted that he smashed out the glass from the front door. Then Heston, Maples and Downard went inside and took firearms from the display cases. Oakley admitted that he was the getaway driver during the robbery.
They stole 23 firearms and various amounts of ammunition. After the burglary, Oakley sped off with Maples, Heston and Downard to Maples’ residence, where they divided the spoils of the burglary and set up plans to exchange or barter the stolen firearms for cash or drugs.
When Maples was arrested on Dec. 26, 2012, he had in his possession two of the firearms that were stolen in the pawn shop burglary, an F.N. 9mm pistol and a Colt .38-caliber revolver, as well as assorted ammunition.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abram McGull II. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Ozark, Mo., Police Department and the Springfield, Mo., Police Department.