, State of Missouri v. Dustin Charles Zook

Bolivar, Missouri, criminal defense lawyer represented the Defendant charged with making terrorist threats, in violation of § 574.120.

On February 8, 2025, Defendant messaged a co-worker and friend (Friend) via Facebook Messenger. Although they were not always employed at the same location, Defendant and Friend had worked together for "six or seven months" at "Fast 'N Friendly" convenience stores in Bolivar, Missouri. During the text conversation with Friend, Defendant suspected he was going to be fired because he was not on the work schedule. Defendant also described his intent to cause an explosion of the "above ground storage tanks" outside the "Store 14" location where Defendant worked. One of Defendant's messages inquired: "How hot do you think we would have to get it for the gas tanks[,] the above ground storage tanks at [S]tore 14 to explode?" Friend responded: "What TF you planning bro? We need to stay alive lol." Defendant replied: "Level the store, maybe [the general manager's] house[.] It's all a joke entirely hypothetical[.]" Defendant also stated that, if he was going to do something like that, "it'd be like two bricks of C4, super easy to make."

The Defendant was found guilty.

Affirmed on appeal.