Ashland man accused of threatening clerks with COVID-19

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

An Ashland man has been charged with harassment after he allegedly told two store clerks he had COVID-19 and asked them if they wanted it.

Court records show Anthony Nunes, 26, was arrested Monday on suspicion of two counts of first-degree harassment, a Class E felony. His bond was set at $5,000.

A probable cause statement accuses Nunes of telling two Jefferson City store clerks -- one on Friday and one on Saturday -- that he has COVID-19 and asking if they wanted to have the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

The statement says Nunes was coughing and told the clerks he had a sore throat and fever. Police say Nunes' statements and actions made the clerks fear for their lives.

It's not clear whether Nunes actually has COVID-19.

ABC 17 News spoke with a man who identified himself as Nunes on Monday night and he denied the allegations.

No hearings have been set in the case and no lawyer was listed for Nunes in online court records.