Plaza Towers owner indicted with additional charges for lying when he bought firearms

The owner of Plaza Towers, Marco Denis, was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday for illegally possessing eight firearms and lying about his criminal record when he purchased two of those guns.

The 49-year-old is the registered agent listed on the Missouri Secretary of State's business database for Springfield Property LLC, a company providing retail and commercial rental space across Springfield, including at Plaza Towers on the corner of East Sunshine Street and Glenstone Avenue. In addition to the charges in the indictment, he now faces six felony counts in Greene County after being arrested on suspicions of kidnapping and domestic assault and is further accused of tampering with evidence.

The indictment alleges Denis was in possession of two shotguns, five pistols and a revolver between Dec. 17, 2020, and July 16, 2024. These possessions were illegal because he was previously convicted of a misdemeanor domestic assault against a person with whom he shared a child in common after pleading guilty in 2003.

The federal charge is brought under the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968, which was amended in 1996 to ban the possession of firearms by individuals convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and in particular to receive any firearm or ammunition which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce. According to previous News-Leader reporting, none of the guns found in Denis's possession were made in Missouri, meaning they would have had to travel in interstate or foreign commerce to get to him.

According to a U.S. Attorney Western District of Missouri news release, this indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint with the addition of two counts of making a false statement to a licensed firearms dealer in purchasing two weapons. In each instance, Denis allegedly reported that he had not been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

Facing additional felonies in Greene County

After being arrested July 14, Denis was charged with two counts of domestic assault and one count of kidnapping. He pleaded not guilty to all these counts. The probable cause statement filed in Greene County Circuit Court accuses Denis of kidnapping a woman with whom he had previously been in a relationship and driving to Kimberling City, where his boat was docked. After driving the woman to a secluded cove by boat, he repeatedly assaulted her and threw her into the water. The victim recounted losing consciousness three times due to blows from Denis, according to police.

Upon their return to Springfield, the victim was able to flee from Denis's car and nearby witnesses drove her to Springfield Police Department Headquarters. According to court documents, she suffered severe injuries.

More: Plaza Towers owner arrested after incident that left woman with serious injuries

Denis was only recently released from the Greene County Jail after posting $150,000 cash bond Aug. 20 with the conditions that he remain on house arrest and his passport be retained by the prosecutor.

However, in an amended felony complaint, he is charged with three other felony counts — all of them for allegedly tampering with physical evidence after his arrest. According to the document, Denis, acting in concert with another, is accused of destroying an iPhone, an Apple watch and altering a Signature Visa card with "the purpose to impair its availability in an official proceeding or investigation" between July 14 and July 26.

Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader. Have feedback, tips or story ideas? Contact her at mmieze@news-leader.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Plaza Towers owner indicted with additional charges for lying when he bought firearms