Columbia man convicted of threatening witnesses, attorney

A Columbia man has been convicted of obstructing justice for threatening an attorney involved in his son’s prosecution.

Bruce Wayne Stephens, 70, was found guilty Wednesday. Stephens is the father of Malcolm Redmon, who was sentenced in September to 24 years and four months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute powder and crack cocaine in Boone County from November 2011 to August 2014.

Evidence during the trial showed that Stephens made multiple threats against those involved in his son’s prosecution. Stephens specifically threatened Brian Risley, an attorney representing one of Redmon’s co-defendants. Redmon was also involved in threatening witnesses and cooperating parties during his trial.

Stephens met Risley outside the federal courthouse before a sentencing hearing Sept. 29 and threatened him multiple times, saying, “Snitches, snitches belong in ditches.” The threats continued inside the courtroom, with Stephens directing comments at the defendant’s family members. The situation escalated, and Stephens was removed from the courthouse. One security officer heard Stephens threatening Risley.

Minutes later, Risley was threatened by Stephens while walking to his car. Stephens said, “You a … snitch … I will kill you, kill your wife, kill your family.”

In addition to the threats, there is evidence that Stephens supported his son’s drug dealing and took part in threatening those who testified against drug dealers, authorities said. After Stephens was arrested, he gave a statement saying that “snitches” should be harmed.

Stephens faces up to 20 years in federal prison without parole. As of Thursday, a sentencing hearing had not been scheduled.