A Springfield man is accused of using a BB gun to threaten a woman and demanding sex acts from her at a bus stop.
Maurice Avery, 40, is in the Greene County Jail, charged with first-degree sodomy or attempted sodomy, an unclassified felony under Missouri law; plus misdemeanor charges of first-degree sexual misconduct and fourth-degree assault.
According to the probable cause statement from Springfield police, the alleged victim — identified only as V1 — reported to police that she and her adult daughter were at a bus stop near the intersection of Ramsey Avenue and Dale Street in north Springfield around noon on April 15, when they laid down in a grassy area and began to sleep.
Though the statement does not contain any identifying information about the victim, this bus stop is located near an overnight shelter for homeless women.
The victim stated she was awoken by a man, later identified as Avery, who was pointing a black pistol at her face and demanding the woman give him oral sex or “I’ll shoot you,” according to the officer’s report.
According to the probable cause statement, V1 told Avery no and Avery continued to demand oral sex and displayed his penis toward her. V1 noticed a second person, identified as V2, and she attempted to get away from Avery by saying she was going to ask V2 for a cigarette.
V1 then told V2 she was being threatened by Avery, so V2 tried to put his wheelchair between them so V1 and her daughter could walk away.
According to the probable cause statement, V1 said Avery told them, “I got a gun. Don’t make no f**king moves.” V1 said they were able to walk away, but told the police officer she was in fear for her life.
Officers spoke to V2, who corroborated V1’s version of events.
Upon being dispatched, officers were given a description of the suspected gunman and soon located Avery, who matched the description.
According to the probable cause statement, Avery told officers “it was a BB gun” and led officers to the gun.
Police: BB gun looks like real handgun
The officer described the BB gun as a black Sig Sauer 1911 BB gun.
“I asked Avery if any average person saw the BB gun, would they think it’s a real gun and he advised me he believed people would think it was real,” the officer wrote in the probable cause statement.
“I then clarified with Avery if he was holding the gun, asking for oral sex, and exposing his penis all at the same time,” the officer wrote. “Avery confirmed this statement and clarified he was doing all three things at the same time. Avery then admitted to me he knew what he did was wrong.”
The officer wrote that Avery is “likely homeless without a stable residence” and has a “history of lewd sexual misconduct and odd behavior.”
Past incidents involving Maurice Avery
On March 18, 2024, Avery was issued a citation for exposing his penis to a gas station clerk and telling the clerk to give him oral sex.
On April 11, 2024, Avery was identified as the suspect in an incident where he entered a private Christian school. While at the school, Avery was found speaking with a 9-year-old child, who began to run away from Avery, the officer wrote.
“Avery was last observed following the child, but was not located,” the officer wrote. “Along with odd sexual behavior, Avery has multiple arrests and citations issued for trespassing and theft since the beginning of 2023.”
In a separate criminal case, Avery faces the class D felonies of stealing more than $750 and second-degree burglary for an incident at a Walmart in January 2024.
According to online court documents, Avery was on probation at the time of the incidents.
Avery does not have an attorney on record listed in court documents and is being held in jail on a $100,000 open court only bond.
