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Bowden resident charged following firearm incident

Man facing one count of wanton endangerment

ELKINS — A Randolph County man is facing a felony charge after allegedly threatening another man and holding a gun to his head Sunday.

Allen Kay Smith, 67, of Bowden, is charged with one felony count of wanton endangerment. He is free on a $50,000 cash-only bond, set by Randolph County Chief Magistrate George M. “Mike” Riggleman.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Randolph County Magistrate Court, on Sunday, Cpl. B.W. Cogar, of the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office, responded to a 911 Communications call regarding threats with a firearm at a Bemis Road residence.

The caller said Smith and another man were at his residence accusing his son of setting fire to the man’s cabin.

He added Smith had a .44 revolver held to his head, the complaint states.

Once on scene, Cogar, Cpl. D.D. Pennington and Deputy Z.T. Pingley spoke to the alleged victim.

He told them Smith and the other man had returned to the scene of the fire. He told officers Smith “held a gun to his head and threatened his life.”

The alleged victim added that Smith had discharged the firearm twice while at his home, according to the police report.

Officers responded to the scene of the fire and found Smith and the other man at the residence.

Cogar searched Smith and discovered one complete .44 magnum round and two .44 magnum shell casings in his pocket, according to the complaint.

When asked about the casings, Smith admitted to firing two rounds from his pistol while at the residence of the alleged victim.

He also said he pointed the pistol at the alleged victim, the complaint states.

If convicted, Smith could be sentenced to not less than one nor more than five years in the state penitentiary. Or, at the discretion of the court, he could be sentenced to not more than one year in jail, fined not less than $250 nor more than $2,500, or both.

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