Heaton Faces Unlawful Use of Weapon Charge

Lisa Heaton was charged in Worth County Associate Circuit Court with Unlawful Use of a Weapon. Information filed by Prosecuting Attorney David Baird alleges that Heaton knowingly possessed a firearm while intoxicated. An affidavit from the Worth County Sheriff's Department alleges that on June 9th, 2012, Deputy Sheriff Tom Trullinger made contact with the defendant who was intoxicated and who was in possession of a .22. In 2009, the section in question, Section 571.030.1(5), was unsuccessfully challenged in court on constitutional grounds. The Missouri Supreme Court upheld it as Constitutional. The Missouri law has an explicit exception for self-defense.