Squires man charged in Ava burglary case

Mark Springer, 56, of Squires, has been released on his own recognizance after he was initially held on a $15,000 cash-only bond in connection with a recent burglary in Ava. Officers with the Ava Police Depart-ment and Douglas County Sheriff’s Department executed a joint-agency search warrant on Springer’s residence and found several of the items that had been reported stolen in Ava. 

Springer is scheduled to return to Douglas County Court at 9 a.m. Jan. 14 for a hearing before Associate Judge Elizabeth Bock in the case. 

 

Burglary at Dobbins’ residence

According to a probable cause statement filed by Ava Police Department Cpl. Dewayne A. Butterworth, the department received a report of stealing and property damage at Amy Dobbins’ residence on Jefferson Street in Ava. 

When Butterworth arrived, Dobbins reportedly told the officer that Springer and another man had come to her residence on Nov. 26 and asked her roommate where she was. When the roommate told the men that Dobbins was at her ex-husband’s house, Springer reportedly threw a Dr. Pepper bottle against the wall, scaring the roommate, who told the officers she’d suffered from a previous abusive relationship. 

The roommate told the officers that the men then went into Dobbins bedroom, found her jewelry boxes and brought them to the kitchen counter, where they dumped out the contents. The roommate said the men placed the jewelry in a yellow envelope and then cut the electrical cord to the home’s refrigerator. The roommate told officers she was afraid of Springer’s violent outburst, so she left the home and rented a motel room that night to avoid the men. 

According to the court document, Springer had lived at the Dobbins’ residence until Oct. 30, when he reportedly “moved back with his wife” at her Squires residence. Springer has reportedly been charged for second-degree domestic assault against Dobbins in the past. 

Dobbins provided a list of items she believes Springer stole from her home. The items include a five-diamond wedding ring worth $5,000; a blue sapphire and diamond necklace with a gold rope chain worth $650; four pairs of diamond earrings valued at $400; a gold bracelet worth $100; a gold chain worth $100; a half-carat diamond pendent; family photos of her deceased mother; a 6.5 Creedmor rifle; titles for two vehicles and her son’s vehicle; a coin collection worth $1,000; and several home decor, clothing and other household items. 

Springer is charged with three felony charges of burglary, stealing $750 or more in items and stealing a firearm in connection with the Dobbins’ home incident. 

 

Search warrant executed

On Dec. 7, Butterworth, along with Douglas County Sheriff Chris DeGase and eight of his deputies, executed a search warrant on Springer’s residence in Squires. 

“We arrived on scene and knocked on the front door announcing ourselves as law enforcement officers and [explained] we had a search warrant for the premises,” Butterworth wrote in his report. “Springer answered the door and was immediately placed into custody. Once in handcuffs, Springer began cussing at officers. Springer was physically compliant but was verbally non-compliant. Due to Springer’s hostile nature, he was placed in a patrol truck.”

After Springer was in the truck, the officers informed the other members of the household of the search warrant and provided them with a copy of the warrant. 

The officers reportedly found the 6.5 Creedmoor rifle and scope in a safe in Springer’s bedroom. When Butterworth asked Springer’s wife, Melanie Springer, where he’d gotten the rifle, she reportedly told the officers that Dobbins had given it to him. 

However, as Butterworth was carrying the gun outside, Mark Springer reportedly began yelling at him, asking why the officer was taking a rifle that his kids had bought him for his birthday. Officers were suspicious of both stories since they were two separate accounts. When DeGase contacted Earth Outdoors in Mountain Grove, the business confirmed that Dobbins had purchased the firearm there. 

Officers also recovered some of the jewelry and household items that matched those that Dobbins had reported stolen. All items were seized as evidence. 

While executing the search warrant, officers also found hydrocodone pills tucked inside a cigarette pack inside a pants pocket that also held Mark Springer’s driver’s license.

Springer has been charged with possession of a controlled substance in connection with the pills. 

Ozark County Times

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