Columbia man charged after allegedly strangling, injuring woman at Clark Lane motel
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Columbia man has been charged with three felonies after he allegedly assaulted a woman at Best Western Motel in the 2900 block of Clark Lane.
Justin Allen Thomas, 33, was charged on Wednesday with first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping and stealing more than $750. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An initial court appearance was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. His next court date has not been set.
According to the probable cause statement, Thomas showed up to the victim’s hotel room Monday evening and asked to use her vehicle, and strangled her after she told him he could not use it. The victim claimed in the probable cause statement that they lost consciousness, because the next thing she remembered was waking up in pain.
Thomas allegedly placed a gun on the table before leaving to get ice. He then allegedly threw the ice at the victim when he returned, the statement says. The victim allegedly told law enforcement that she felt like she could not leave because of Thomas’ actions.
The victim went to an area hospital and an x-ray allegedly showed that her right foot was fractured and there was a crack in her right leg, court documents say. The victim spoke with police while wearing a medical boot and using crutches, the statement says.
Police gave the victim a ride back to the motel, and multiple items were stolen from the room that totaled $1,475, according to court documents. Police reviewed video footage, which allegedly showed Thomas leaving the motel while carrying multiple bags, court documents say.
Thomas had a failure-to-appear warrant in multiple cases. In one case, he pleaded guilty to drug possession and illegally possessing a gun. He was sentenced to five years of probation with a five-year suspended sentence. He also pleaded guilty in 2022 to fourth-degree domestic assault and first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle and was sentenced to four years of probation with a five-year suspended sentence.
Thomas was also charged in April with third-degree domestic assault and first-degree property damage and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
