Jefferson City woman charged with threatening witness in prior case

A Jefferson City woman has been accused of threatening a witness for a case in which the suspect had already been charged.

Prosecutors say Shannon Kemp talked to the victim on Tuesday, showed a gun and knife, and held the gun against the victim’s cheek while threatening harm if the victim were to testify against her in a prior case.

Police arrested Kemp a short time later, finding a knife, powder methamphetamine, a glass pipe, and narcotics packaging materials on her.

In this case, Kemp has been charged with tampering with a witness, unlawful use of a weapon, assault, armed criminal action, possession of a controlled substance amd paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of a weapon. Being a convicted felon, it is unlawful for Kemp to have a gun.

The prior case in which the victim was apparently to testify is a drug case in which Kemp is also charged. That happened in early May, when police pulled Kemp over for driving while revoked. A search of the car turned up a loaded handgun and a smoking pipe with marijuana. Kemp claimed the gun was not hers, saying she knew she is a felon and is not allowed to have a gun. She did apparently admit to owning the marijuana pipe.

Kemp is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia in that case.