Man accused of helping another man avoid arrest in Dove Drive shooting pleads guilty

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man who was accused of helping another man avoid an arrest pleaded guilty on Monday.

Maurice Penny Jr. pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor resisting arrest. He was sentenced to 120 days in jail. He was initially charged with resisting arrest and hindering the prosecution of a felony.

He was not listed on the Boone County Jail roster on Wednesday evening.

Court documents say he was accused of helping Ja’Shaun Barney avoid arrest. Barney, 19, was charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon in connection to the shooting death of Deshon Joseph Houston, 33, who was found dead on June 26, 2023, outside of a home in the 3200 block of Dove Drive.

Barney is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond and has a hearing set for 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 15 at the Boone County Courthouse.

Police previously arrested Jajuan Crockett; Damarkus Williams, 19; and Bryton Allen, 20, all of Columbia, in connection with the homicide investigation. All three were charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action.

A writ was issued in Crockett’s case. His probation was revoked in another case and he was sentenced to six years in prison on Dec. 29. He pleaded in 2021 to drug possession and was initially sentenced to probation. In another case, he pleaded guilty to stealing and was sentenced to probation. His probation was revoked in November and was sentenced to four years.

Williams is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. He has a hearing scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday, April 8.

A write was issued for Allen and he has a hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 29.

He is being held at the Missouri Department of Corrections after he was sentenced to four years on Nov. 27 for another case. He pleaded guilty to resisting arrest in 2021 and was initially sentenced to probation.

Police are still looking for three men, who are also charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action:

• Alqueze Jones
• Deljuan Turner
• Deazes Turner

Warrants for their arrests were issued July 7 and no bond was set.

Another man who was accused of driving a getaway car for Barney was charged in November. Alex Glay, of Columbia, was charged with hindering the prosecution of a felony and resisting arrest. He has a hearing scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday, April 8.