High Ridge Man Charged After Carjacking Injures 75-Year-Old Woman

Festus, Mo. (KFMO) - A High Ridge man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly stealing a 75-year-old woman’s vehicle and running over her hand during a carjacking on Tuesday, Dec. 2, in Festus.

Police say 52-year-old Janus Ashly Hoffman took the woman’s 2016 Subaru Outback at a gas station after approaching her under the guise of helping with the gas pump. As the woman attempted to retrieve her wallet and key fob, she fell while Hoffman drove off, and the SUV ran over her hand. She also suffered a head and hip injury. She was treated for minor injuries at Mercy Jefferson Hospital in Crystal City. Hoffman was later spotted by Crystal City Police and taken into custody after a brief pursuit. He is charged with vehicle hijacking and first-degree assault involving a special victim, both class A felonies; DWI–persistent offender causing serious physical injury, a class D felony; and two counts of armed criminal action.

Hoffman is being held without bond at the Jefferson County Jail.

According to court documents, Hoffman admitted to consuming homemade marijuana edibles and pain pills before the incident and told hospital staff he regularly uses fentanyl intravenously. Records show he has previously served multiple prison sentences and has at least five felony convictions.

Missouri penalties for class A felonies range from 10 to 30 years or life in prison. Unclassified felonies carry three to 15 years, and class D felonies are punishable by up to seven years.