Another person charged in alleged Columbia gun theft ring
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Another woman has been charged in connection with an alleged gun theft ring in Columbia.
Shannon Babich, of Columbia, was charged with stealing a gun and misdemeanor unlawful possession drug paraphernalia. A warrant was ordered and a $20,000 bond was set. She is not listed on the Boone County Jail roster.
Babich was allegedly at Thomas Abbey Jr.’s residence when Abbey was pulled over during a vehicle stop, the probable cause statement says. A SWAT team served a search warrant at the residence and found a handgun in a backpack along with a loaded syringe, court documents say. Abbey allegedly said the handgun was Babich’s, the statement says.
Babich’s phone was taken by law enforcement and data from it was downloaded for a search warrant, the statement says. Text messages allegedly indicated that Babich took the gun back from someone, court documents say. The gun was reported stolen from Boonville, court documents say.
Abbey is accused of buying a gun from Kayla Dugan, 37, of Columbia, and trading the gun with Ronald McIntire for a truck.
Dugan was indicted on Friday for two counts of unlawful gun possession, one count of stealing a gun and one count of drug possession. An arraignment was set for 8:30 a.m. Friday, May 23.
Dugan was arrested last month and 14 guns were found in her apartment – and several more found at Kiwanis Park – she allegedly described people who bought guns. Several of the guns were reported stolen from Macon.
Justin Shelton, 30, of Columbia, was charged with two counts of illegal gun possession and one count of stealing a gun. He is being held at the Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center. An initial court appearance in his case is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. Friday, May 2.
Abbey, of Columbia, was charged with illegal gun possession, stealing a gun and drug possession. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday. He bonded out of jail earlier this month.
Gerald Bell, 44, of Centralia, was indicted by a grand jury on Friday on charges including illegal gun possession and stealing a gun. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. An arraignment is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday.
Robert Ruble, 38, of Columbia, was charged with receiving stolen property, drug possession, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. He is being held at the Boone County Jail without bond. A preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. Thursday, May 22.
Tyrone Sabb, 49, of Columbia, was charged with receiving stolen property, four counts of illegal gun possession and two counts of armed criminal action. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday.
