SEDALIA, Mo. — An alleged burglary late Monday night in Sedalia has led to the arrest of a local man.
Charles Shaw, courtesy VineLink
According to a probable cause statement filed in Pettis County, officers with the Sedalia Police Department were dispatched to the report of a burglary in the 400 block of East Second Street at around 11:34 p.m. on Monday, April 17.
As officers arrived at the scene and made contact with the victim, Donna Shelley, who informed them that she was sleeping in her bed when she allegedly awoke to find Charles Shaw, 56, of Sedalia, standing over her. Shelley reportedly told Shaw that she was going to kill him and he fled the residence.
The victim reported to officers that she had found broken glass in her living room but was unsure where it came from. She then informed officers that she believed Shaw had entered her residence through a back door, which the officer observed was open.
A law enforcement official asked Shelley how she knew Shaw, and was reportedly informed that he had lived nearby in the past and that the victim had allegedly taken him to buy cigarettes earlier on the day of the incident but that he was not ever at her residence.
Another officer made contact with Shaw at 3rd and Mill and indicated that he found several pills in Shaw’s pocket, identified as Lorazepam, which the victim reportedly had a prescription for.
After Shaw consented to a full search of his person, an officer found six white, round pills, which were later positively identified as Lorazepam 1 mg tablets. Shaw reportedly told officers he did not have any prescriptions written to him when he was asked.
When quizzed as to why he had the pills, he allegedly told police, “My girlfriend gave them to me for anxiety.”
Shaw allegedly told officers that he was simply attempting to surprise Shelley by trying to have sex with her. He was then read his Miranda Rights.
Shaw then explained to officers that he went to the front door first before going around to the back door, where he said he saw someone knocking.
A few moments later, he allegedly told law enforcement officials that the subject he was talking about had actually just left the residence and was walking out the back door before he was able to slip in behind the unidentified subject.
As Shaw told officers his side of what happened, he reportedly mentioned that upon entrance to her residence, Shelley had pill sitting on her table, which officers had neither mentioned or asked him about.
Officers then asked the suspect if he had gotten the pills found on his person from the victim’s table, but denied the allegation. He informed police that he “got them from Smokey,” another person who reportedly lives nearby.
Shaw was arrested at around 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday and formally charged with one felony count each of burglary in the first degree and stealing a controlled substance. He also faces a single count for second degree property damage.
Shaw also has a criminal history of burglary, with six separate previous convictions, the most recent of which was handed down in June of 2010, when he was sentenced to seven years in the Department of Corrections. He also has three prior convictions for theft or stealing.
Shaw was transported to the Pettis County Jail to be held. Bond was set at $50,000.00, cash or surety.
He is slated to appear before a judge in a Pettis County courtroom at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 25.