Four charged after alleged assault using bat, hammer, walking cane

By Kevin Jenkins | June 15, 2022 |

Felony charges have been filed in Madison County, alleging four area residents took part in assaulting two adults and a juvenile with a baseball bat, hammer, and a walking cane.

Tonya Shepard, 35, of Farmington, has been charged with first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree assault, and unlawful use of a firearm – subsection 4 (exhibiting).

James Shepard, 56, of Fredericktown, and Katie Cureton, 18, of Farmington, are each charged with first-degree assault and two counts of second-degree assault.

Matthew Mayhew, 28, of Fredericktown, has been charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, and attempted second-degree assault.

According to a probable cause statement from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, on May 27, at about 5:15 p.m., a physical altercation occurred at the property of two Fredericktown residents.

The report states Tonya Shepard, acting with James Shepard, Mayhew, and Cureton, began assaulting the two residents and a juvenile present at the address.

A deputy reported that during the struggle, which was caught on video, it appeared all three alleged victims were struck with what looked to be a bat, a hammer, and a walking cane.

One of the alleged victims, a male, reportedly suffered an injury to the back of the head and was transported by ambulance to Parkland Health Center in Farmington for treatment. The other adult and the juvenile both sustained minor injuries, according to the report.

The report indicates that the victim statements and the captured video depict Tonya Shepard retrieving a small black handgun and pointing it at all three alleged victims in an angry and threatening manner.

Several handguns were reportedly recovered during the subsequent police investigation, with one gun allegedly fitting the description of the firearm seen during the reported altercation.

Tonya Shepard was booked at the Madison County Jail, and a $100,000 cash-only bond has been set in the case.

James Shepard, Cureton, and Mayhew were booked at the jail, and their bonds have been set at $75,000 cash-only each.

Tonya Shepard, Cureton, and Mayhew pleaded not guilty to the charges at court hearings held May 31. James Shepard entered pleas of not guilty at a June 2 court appearance.

Cureton, Mayhew and James Shepard attended bond reduction hearings, June 6. The state and victims stated they were opposed to any bond reduction.

The court released Cureton on a personal recognizance bond with the special conditions; that she must have no contact with the victims or co-defendants, and she must live with her mother in Farmington.

Mayhew was denied bond reduction.

Due to health reasons, the court released James Shepard on a personal recognizance bond with special conditions; that he should have no contact with victim or co-defendant’s.

At a court appearance June 13, Tonya Shepard’s bond was reduced to $20,000 cash or surety, 10% allowed with the special conditions; defendant must have GPS monitoring system installed, defendant is to have no contact with victim or co-defendants, and defendant is not to be in Madison County except for court dates.