Missouri man pleads guilty to federal charges of assault and threat at Fort Leonard Wood
James W. Dickens pleaded guilty Monday to assaulting and threatening federal law enforcement officers at Fort Leonard Wood, a June 11, 2023, incident that occurred on the north side of the Missouri military post.
Dickens, a 32-year-old Houston, Missouri, resident, reportedly drove a stolen vehicle to a gate around 1 a.m. and showed officers he had an axe in the passenger seat and proceeded to drive off, leading to a short pursuit. After crashing into a security drop arm, prosecutors said the vehicle was surrounded by officers.
The Texas County man attempted to get away, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, saying something to the effect of "if you tase me, I will kill you," before charging at an officer with clenched fists, falling and fighting until he was subdued by assisting officers.
After he was handcuffed, a screaming Dickens reportedly continued to threaten and act hostile toward the officers and responding paramedics, and had spit on them.
After spitting on one of the responders, Dickens said "Yeah, (expletive), now you got HIV,” or words to that effect, according to prosecutors.
Dickens is subject to a sentence of up to 18 years in federal prison without parole.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri man pleads guilty to assault at Fort Leonard Wood
