Hope man faces felony charges in shooting incident

SHELBYVILLE — Three felony charges have been filed in Shelby County against a Hope man accused of firing a weapon at an acquaintance.

Ronald W. Zollman, 56, of 633 Grand St., Hope, is now formally charged with criminal recklessness while armed with a deadly weapon and intimidation, both Level 5 felonies. In addition, he’s also charged with pointing a firearm as a Level 6 offense, court records state

If convicted on all three counts, Zollman could be ordered to serve up to 14½ years behind bars as well as pay fines of up to $30,000. During an initial hearing Wednesday, Shelby Circuit Judge Charles D. O’Connor set a tentative trial date of 8:30 a.m. Dec. 5.

While the other Hope man — identified as Van Clark Moss — was not injured, O’Connor issued a no contact order between Moss and Zollman Wednesday, according to Shelby County jail records.

During a heated argument that occurred while both men were traveling on State Road 252 Tuesday afternoon, Zollman got out of Moss’ pickup truck about a mile west of Flat Rock, a news release from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department said.

Evidence indicates that when Moss, 64, began to drive away and left Zollman near the Lewis Creek bridge, the defendant fired as many as three shots that struck the outside front passenger side of the truck, the release stated.

After sheriff’s deputies arrived at the southern Shelby County location, Zollman emerged out of a nearby cornfield and was arrested, deputies said.

Deputies also searched and examined the truck, which Moss had driven to a nearby residence while waiting for help.

Zollman was booked into the Shelby County Jail at 6:09 p.m. and was ordered held in lieu of $755 bond, jail records state.