Aurora man sentenced for terror threats, weapon charges

STONE COUNTY, Mo. — An Aurora man has been sentenced in Stone County Circuit Court following an incident in December 2024.

According to online court dockets, Lance Bishop, born 1968, has been sentenced following an Alford plea on Aug. 4. Bishop was sentenced on Aug. 11 to five years on first-degree terrorist threat and four years on unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree harassment and resisting arrest for a felony. Bishop is also serving 90 days in jail for a charge of fourth-degree assault.

Under an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but concedes that evidence is likely to result in a conviction. The sentences will be served concurrently, which means Bishop will serve five years in prison.

The probable cause statement says that officers with the Aurora-Marionville Police Department were dispatched to a location on Dec. 29, 2024, following a report of an intoxicated man harassing an individual with a machete.

Police talked to the man, who was identified as Bishop, and the victim on the scene. The victim told officers that they were assisting a friend with moving out of an apartment.

Bishop began yelling at the victim from a few inches away, armed with a machete, saying, "I'm allowed to stand here and stare at you," "I hate you," and "I can have a gun if I want."

One of the officers spoke to Bishop and asked him why he was threatening and harassing the victim. Bishop began telling the officer that he had done nothing wrong and was allowed to stand there and possess a machete.

Bishop began yelling at the officers, telling them to leave the property or they "would regret it," according to court records.

Bishop walked into his property and then reappeared at his doorway with a machete in his right hand. The officer unholstered his duty weapon and told Bishop to "leave us alone and no one wanted to get hurt," according to court documents. Bishop returned to his residence as the officer contacted supervisors for backup.

Police began a standoff with Bishop until he finally came out of his apartment. Bishop finally exited his apartment, but told officers that he had a "kill switch" if they tried anything, which police believed to be a bomb threat.

Officers arrested Bishop and began a search of his residence. Police found five machetes, a rifle, a handgun, a gas mask with a filter, a stun baton/flashlight and a hatchet.