Case Dismissed at Preliminary Hearing

May 21, 2014

OUTCOME: Dismissed

The Bowling Green man accused of kidnapping and assaulting the mother of his children has received a clean slate, after the felony charges were dropped last week. John Erin XXXXX, age 33, was initia ... lly charged with domestic assault, unlawful use of a weapon, possession of methamphetamine, kidnapping, and armed criminal action, all felonies. Every charge was dismissed during a preliminary hearing last Wednesday, May 21. Originally, a probable cause statement filed by Cpl. Mark Bair of the BGPD noted that the officer observed a “black semi automatic 9mm hand gun and knife strapped to John’s right side” and injuries to the female victim. According to the woman, XXXXX had held her in the house against her will for several days and had “pointed his hand gun at her twice while verbally threatening to kill her.” The report also said that while investigating the home, the BGPD officer discovered drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine. According to XXXXX’s lawyer, Attorney John Tresslar, of St. Louis, the prosecutor, Mark Fisher, called Jessica Epperson and Officer Bair as witnesses for the State; they were also cross-examined by the defense attorney. “At the end of testimony, Judge Ash issued the attached Order that there was no probable cause and dismissed the case against John XXXXX,” Tresslar said.