A gunshot wound reported to law enforcement by personnel at Ozarks Healthcare personnel has led to multiple felony drug and firearms charges against a West Plains man.
Scotty D. Niederklopfer, 33, is charged with with class D felony possession of a controlled substance, class C felony unlawful possession of a firearm and class E felony unlawful use of a weapon by possessing a firearm while in possession of a controlled substance.
Howell County Sheriff's Office Lt. Torey Thompson investigated the incident after a woman arrived at Ozarks Healthcare on the morning of Aug. 27 with a penetrating gunshot wound to her upper chest.
Hospital staff members were told by the victim and Niederklopfer, who drove her to the emergency room, that the injury occurred when a .22-caliber bullet exploded after being exposed to heat. When staff informed them the incident had to be reported to law enforcement, Niederklopfer left the facility. Deputies later identified Niederklopfer and his vehicle using hospital surveillance video and located them at a residence on Fifth Street in West Plains.
According to Thompson, a penetrating wound of that nature was highly inconsistent with heat-exposed ammunition. During questioning, Niederklopfer claimed the shooting happened at a friend’s property in Caulfield but refused to disclose a location.
Niederklopfer was initially arrested for driving while suspended. Deputies impounded the vehicle after observing what appeared to be blood inside, subsequently recovering potential blood evidence and a hypodermic syringe during a court-authorized search.
Investigators later executed a second search warrant on a camper owned by Niederklopfer, seizing a .22-caliber rifle, spent .22-caliber shell casings, drug paraphernalia and a weighable amount of a substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
Thompson’s report noted that Niederklopfer is a convicted felon on parole who is prohibited from possessing a firearm. Court records show he pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in July 2021 in Howell County and was sentenced to five years in prison after his probation was revoked in December 2022. He also pleaded guilty to drug possession in May 2022 in Wright County, where a suspended sentence was revoked in January 2023.
Niederklopfer was formally arraigned Aug. 31 before 37th Judicial Circuit Associate Judge R. David Ray and entered a plea of not guilty. Special Public Defender Elizabeth Satchell entered an appearance on Niederklopfer's behalf Sept. 2, filing motions for discovery and a continuance.
Niederklopfer was released after posting a $50,000 surety bond. The case is being prosecuted by Howell County Prosecuting Attorney Mike Hutchings.
