SULLIVAN COUNTY, MO (June 22) — Michael Shannon Rodgers, a 45-year-old resident of Butler, Missouri, has been charged with third-degree domestic assault, a Class E felony, and fourth-degree assault, a Class C misdemeanor. The charges stem from incidents reported to have occurred on June 18 near Milan.
According to court documents obtained by local authorities, Rodgers is accused of causing physical pain to a domestic victim who resided with him at the time of the alleged incident. Prosecutors allege that Rodgers threw a flashlight during an argument, striking the individual in the back and resulting in bruising. Additionally, another charge involves threats made while holding a wrench against a neighbor.
Chief Deputy Cody Perkins from the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports on June 19 at a property north of Milan after receiving multiple assault complaints involving Rodgers. Two individuals provided statements: one detailed being struck by the thrown flashlight and sustaining bruising; the other, identified as a neighbor, alleged threats were made with a wrench.
Rodgers was later interviewed post-Miranda rights and admitted to throwing the flashlight but claimed it wasn’t intentional. He also acknowledged an altercation involving the neighbor while holding a wrench due to perceived self-defense concerns when he believed the individual was armed.
Bond for Rodgers has been set at $5,000 cash only. The felony domestic assault charge carries potential penalties including up to four years in Missouri’s Department of Corrections or one year in county jail, along with fines reaching up to $10,000. The misdemeanor assault is punishable by a maximum sentence of 15 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $750.
It should be noted that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court proceedings.