(AP) – A judge has ruled that two southwest Missouri residents will
stand trial on charges accusing them of assaulting a 19-year-old Somali woman.
Michael R. Miller and Ashli M. Helmuth are accused of accosting the woman as
she left a Noel park on Oct. 3.
The Joplin Globe reports that a McDonald County judge on Wednesday found
probable cause during a preliminary hearing to order Helmuth and Miller to stand
trial on charges of first-degree assault and armed criminal action.
The Somali woman testified that Helmuth hit her and Miller shot a handgun in
her general direction during the altercation at a Noel ballpark.
Lawyers for the defendants didn’t immediately return calls seeking comment.
The judge set Miller’s initial appearance for Dec. 6 and Helmuth’s initial
appearance for Dec. 20.
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