'Mexican Mafia' suspect accused in court of knocking out man's teeth, slapping woman

It’s not clear what led to a self-proclaimed Mexican Mafia gang member to show up at the front door of a Marble Hill, Missouri, couple late June 20 in the 200 block of Plutarch Lane.

Salvador Villegas, 44, of Marble Hill forced his way through the home’s door and assaulted Ricky Barnes and Stephanie Warren, according to testimony from Barnes and Warren.

Warren said Villegas kicked her in the face while she was on the ground, breaking her left eye socket and causing a large hematoma that was visible in court Wednesday, more than three weeks after the alleged assault. Barnes said Villegas knocked out three of his teeth after he suffered blows to his face.

Warren, Barnes and Marble Hill police Sgt. Richard Howard testified in a preliminary hearing Wednesday. Judge Scott Thomsen found there was sufficient probable cause to bound Villegas over for an arraignment at 9 a.m. July 31.

The Bollinger County Prosecuting Attorney’s office charged Villegas with first-degree assault, second-degree assault and possession of a controlled substance.

Warren said she had known Villegas for about a month and a half, but the only interaction she had with Villegas by herself was when she was helping his wife, Carole Gusler, 73, with work around her property. When Villegas and Warren were in a room by themselves, he made “sexual advances” toward her, she said.

Barnes testified he did not know Villegas that well, either. He met Villegas at a halfway house in Farmington, Missouri, when they had been released from prison, Barnes said. Villegas recently finished a 64-month sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm; he was sentenced in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of California in 2012. The federal prosecutor charged Villegas with possession of a pistol and a shotgun in 2011, stating the weapons were brought into California based on information from Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives special agent Chad Key. Villegas previously was found guilty of possession of a firearm by a felon Sept. 27, 2002, in Los Angeles.

Villegas was on probation, but federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of Missouri filed a motion July 5 to detain Villegas for a probation-revocation hearing.

“The defendant is a threat to the community,” federal prosecutor Richard Callahan wrote in the motion.

Barnes said he had just finished a 13-year sentence for unlawful possession of a firearm, and he remains on probation for five years.

“My criminal history, it’s pretty long,” Barnes said when asked by public defender Chris Davis.

Barnes and Villegas were in drug-addiction treatment together in Cape Girardeau, and Villegas had offered Barnes rides. Barnes recently had told Villegas they were not supposed to associate with each other, based on the advice of his probation officer.

“I wouldn’t say they’re friends,” Warren said of Villegas and Barnes.

Barnes was celebrating his birthday at 10:30 p.m. June 20, and Warren had fallen asleep on the couch when Villegas knocked at the door, Barnes said. Barnes answered, and he told Villegas they were not supposed to be around each other.

“He said I was disrespecting him by not letting him in,” Barnes said. “He’s a gangster, and he’s Mexican Mafia.”

Villegas forced his way inside the house, Barnes said, adding he’s not sure how Villegas got inside. Warren woke up and loudly asked Villegas to leave, Warren said. Villegas asked Barnes whether he could slap Warren, Barnes said.

“If you do that, you’re going to jail,” Barnes said.

Villegas then exposed his genitals and asked her for a sexual favor, Warren said. When she declined, Villegas slapped her with the back of his hand, and Villegas and Barnes began fighting, ending up in the front yard.

“He knocks me down, and he knocks my bottom teeth out,” Barnes said. “I couldn’t handle him.”

A neighbor came over and pulled Villegas off Barnes, Barnes said. Barnes went back into the house, but Villegas followed, Barnes said.

Still stunned from the slap, Warren was on the floor. Villegas kicked her in the face and in the ribs, Warren said.

Barnes and Villegas began fighting again, which is when Howard arrived after being called by a neighbor. Howard said Villegas was standing over Barnes, assaulting him. Howard pulled Villegas off Barnes, put him on the ground and handcuffed him, Howard said.

Warren declined treatment at the time because she did not realize the extent of her injuries, she said.

Bollinger County sheriff’s deputies arrested Gusler on July 5. The Bollinger County Prosecuting Attorney’s office charged Gusler with tampering with a victim in a felony prosecution after she threatened Barnes that Villegas’ Mexican Mafia friends would pay him a visit, according to a probable-cause statement filed by Howard.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

200 block of Plutarch Street, Marble Hill, Mo.