A 32-year-old Union-area man is behind bars after deputies say he broke into a home, soaked a woman in gasoline with a homemade flamethrower setup, and hit another person in the head with a flashlight during a chaotic confrontation over the weekend, according to court documents.
Investigators say Christopher Viehland forced his way into a house outside Union on Saturday carrying what looked like a modified fire extinguisher. A probable cause statement describes the device as having been sanded down and labeled "flame thrower," with a metal pipe taped to the nozzle and a cloth stuffed inside. Deputies say he used it to douse a woman in gasoline, then struck a man on the head with a flashlight while that man fought back. The woman ran to a nearby business to call 911, and deputies later noted the house "reeked of gasoline." Viehland was arrested within Union city limits later that day and has denied involvement, according to court documents reported by First Alert 4.
Prosecutors have charged Viehland with first-degree burglary, domestic assault and third-degree assault tied to the incident. No fire was reported, but the allegations highlight how quickly a confrontation can lurch toward disaster once gasoline gets involved.
Similar allegations have surfaced elsewhere in Missouri this spring. In Audrain County, prosecutors charged a man in April after he allegedly poured gasoline on a porch and told a witness he planned to burn the home, according to ABC17. That case and others have underscored how a few seconds with an accelerant can turn a threat into a life-threatening blaze.
Charges and Legal Stakes
Under Missouri law, burglary in the first degree is a class B felony when a person unlawfully enters a structure and is armed or threatens immediate injury. That puts serious prison time on the table if a jury finds a defendant guilty.
The domestic assault and third-degree assault counts fall under Chapter 565 of the Revised Statutes. Domestic assault in the third degree is a class E felony under state law. The statutory language for the burglary and domestic assault charges is laid out in RSMo 569.160 and RSMo 565.074.
Next Steps and Records
Court records cited by local reporting show a bond hearing is scheduled for Monday in Franklin County Circuit Court. At that hearing, the prosecutor will decide whether to formally file charges that could move the case toward indictment.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in Union handles bookings and records requests tied to the case. The agency lists its contact and records-request procedures on the county website at the sheriff’s office page. First Alert 4 reported the court schedule.
Viehland remains in custody pending the bond hearing and any further action by the county prosecutor. Charging documents and court dockets will determine whether the case proceeds to indictment and, eventually, to trial.
