Bruce Wayne Stephens, Threatening an Attorney, Missouri 2024

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Bruce Wayne Stephens, the 70-year-old father of a major drug-trafficking figure in Columbia, has been found guilty by a federal jury of threatening an attorney involved in his son’s case.

The verdict follows a trial that saw evidence of repeated threats made by Stephens against Brian Risley, who represented one of his son’s co-defendants. The elder Stephens was charged with obstructing justice for threatening retaliation against those involved in the official proceeding.

Stephens’ son, Malcolm Desean Redmon, was sentenced to 24 years and four months without parole for leading a conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Redmon had also been involved in multiple shooting incidents and drug use, according to court documents.

During the trial, it was revealed that Stephens made threats against Risley, specifically targeting him due to his representation of Vershawn Edwards, another co-defendant. This included statements outside the courtroom and a confrontation at Redmon’s sentencing hearing.

In one incident, after leaving the courthouse, Stephens accosted Risley, calling him a “snitch” and threatening violence against himself, his wife, and family members. Despite Risley’s attempts to drive away, Stephens continued to threaten him.

According to court documents, although there is no direct evidence linking Stephens to the drug-trafficking conspiracy, he supported his son’s lifestyle and culture, which included threats against witnesses and cooperators.