Ames Man Faces 44 Felonies for Motel Shooting

An Ames man has now been charged in a Dec. 2 shooting at a motel.

The charges against Antoine Worthum, 24, Lincoln Swing, mirror 44 of the 45 charges filed against Deon Owens, 23, of Des Moines.

Owens allegedly displayed a handgun and threatened several people at a party early Dec. 2, at the EconoLodge Motel on S.E. 16^th Street, where more than 20 people had gathered. Owens' gun went off when other people attending the party tried to take his gun away, according to police.

Ames Police CMDR. James Robinson said the Story County Attorney's office instructed them to file the additional charges against Worthum, who was working in concert with Owens, Robinson said.

According to criminal complaints, Owens pulled out a handgun and ordered a number of people to line up against the wall and people in the room felt they were going to be robbed. People in the room then rushed Owens and the gun went off during the struggle for the gun while Owens was holding it, complaints said.

Robinson couldn't elaborate on how Worthum was involved.

Worthum was charged with 11 counts of aiding and abetting first-degree robbery, a class B felony, 11 counts of aiding and abetting intimidation with a dangerous weapon, a class C felony, 11 counts of aiding and abetting going armed with intent, a class D felony, and 11 counts of aiding and abetting assault while participating in a felony, a Class D felony.

A class B felony is punishable by up to 25 years in prison, a Class C felony, is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a Class D felony is punishable by five years in prison.

Worthum was already in the Story County Jail on unrelated charges, Robinson said.