A Missouri House staffer, Christian Chenet, 28, was charged Wednesday with assault and harassment after allegedly threatening to shoot and kill a Jefferson City restaurant owner, according to documents filed in Cole County Circuit Court, and was jailed without bond.
When asked to set bond, Associate Circuit Judge Joseph Shetler ruled, "Defendant Chenet is a danger to the community."
Chenet was instructed to apply for counsel through the Public Defender's Office, and Shetler scheduled a hearing for Monday to review the bond decision. A preliminary hearing was set for May 1.
Chenet is currently being held in the Cole County Jail.
The incident began around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Chenet, a legislative aide for St. Louis Democrat Rep. Kim Smith, went to Izzy’s Burgers and Shakes to retrieve a purse left behind by Columbia Democrat Rep. Kathy Steinhoff.
Smith declined to comment on Chenet's arrest, and Steinhoff also avoided comment. As of now, no attorney for Chenet is listed in court records.
The situation escalated when Izzy’s owner, Taisir Yanis, refused to return the purse after looking inside to identify the owner, stating he could only give it back to Steinhoff.
According to a probable cause statement written by Jefferson City Police Officer Mitchell Roseland, "The defendant became upset and angry at the victim for looking into the purse."
Roseland noted that Chenet called Yanis a "f---ing racist," and Yanis told Chenet to leave, then followed him outside.
Yanis told officers he warned Chenet not to return to the store, at which point Chenet allegedly said, "Stay right there. I'm going to go get my gun."
Chenet went to his vehicle and told responding officers there was a gun inside. A search revealed a Glock 9mm handgun.
Chenet told officers that Yanis pushed him, which is why he went to his car. He said he called 911 and "made a statement about shooting (Yanis)."
Roseland noted in the interview process that Chenet "still felt his actions were justified."
Missouri House of Representatives: The lower house of the Missouri General Assembly, the state's legislature, composed of 163 members. Reps. Kim Smith and Kathy Steinhoff, mentioned in this article, are both Democratic members of the House. Role of an Aide: A House aide supports a representative's legislative activities, constituent services, media relations, and more. They handle tasks such as policy research, assisting with bill drafting, and constituent communication. Gun Ownership: Missouri is known for having relatively loose gun regulations. Legal gun owners have the right to openly or concealed carry firearms. However, in this case, Chenet's mention and possession of a gun in a threatening situation became problematic. Seriousness of Racist Remarks: Chenet's use of the term "racist" towards the restaurant owner goes beyond simple criticism and could suggest a potential hate crime context. Investigating authorities may conduct further inquiries into this aspect. Legal Process: Chenet has been charged with assault and harassment and will undergo a preliminary hearing and trial to determine his guilt. Being held without bond indicates the court's assessment that he poses a risk to the community. The appointment of a public defender and the bond review hearing will allow Chenet to exercise his right to defense. This case, involving the status of a Missouri House staffer, gun possession, and alleged racist remarks, is being taken seriously, and the progression of the legal proceedings will be closely watched.
[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]
