Jefferson City man charged with unlawful use of weapon

A Jefferson City man has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon in connection with an incident that occurred Tuesday night.

Stephon Phillips, 30, is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, delivery of a controlled substance, violation of an order of protection and two counts of unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

The incident occurred in the 200 block of North Ventura Avenue.

A witness said she saw Phillips get into a physical altercation with another man and Phillips later got a black semi-automatic handgun out of a vehicle and began to make threats toward the other man.

The owner of the vehicle told police she also had seen Phillips get into the disturbance and Phillips had gotten the firearm out of her vehicle, and she claimed to have owned the firearm.

The vehicle owner allowed police to search the vehicle, and officers reportedly found a bag with a green, leafy substance believed to be marijuana. A Glock 19 9 mm semi-automatic handgun allegedly was found in the back seat. Officers said the firearm was reported to have been stolen from Jefferson City.

Another clear plastic bag with more marijuana was found, along with a clear plastic bag containing what was thought to be cocaine, a small digital scale and a .380-caliber semi-automatic handgun in the storage compartment to the left of the steering wheel. This firearm matched the one described as the one Phillips allegedly used in the altercation.

Court records show Phillips is a convicted felon with several prior convictions for violation of order of protection. This means he is not allowed to possess a firearm.

Phillips denied he possessed a firearm or drugs and told authorities what was found did not belong to him.