Thursday 17th July 2025

A 45-year-old Smithton man has been charged with a couple of felonies after a reported incident on June 23 in Sedalia.
According to a probable-cause statement, a deputy arrived at the scene of a reported disturbance with a possible weapon. A woman stated that while she was asleep, Christopher Cowles unlawfully entered her property by using his credit card to bypass the lock on the front door. He then came upstairs where she was sleeping and woke her up by grabbing her by her hair and pulling her out of the bed onto the floor. The woman said Cowles then started yelling at her while she was telling her roommate to call the police. The woman said after yelling at her, Cowles left her room and went into her roommate’s room.
The roommate said Cowles came into her room and started yelling at her and went to the bathroom and came back with a toothbrush. She said Cowles then started threatening her, acting like he was going to stab her with the handle of the toothbrush.
Cowles has been charged with a Class B Felony for Burglary in the First Degree and a Class C Felony for Domestic Assault in the Third Degree. Bond has been set at $25,000 cash or surety.
Cowles was arraigned on July 7. His next hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, July 14, at Pettis County Circuit Court.