A 51-year-old convicted felon from Belleview was arrested after several shotguns, ammunition, and a fake bomb were found in a shed in which he was allegedly living.
On Wednesday, December 11, several Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence on SE 47th Avenue in Belleview in reference to a verbal altercation. Upon arrival, the female homeowner advised that her son, Paul Eugene Hames, lives in the shed behind her property, according to the arrest report.
While at the incident location, deputies made contact with another relative of Hames who claimed that an argument had occurred between them a few days earlier. According to the relative’s statement, the argument was over the relative’s motorcycle, and Hames “made vague threats” towards the relative during the verbal altercation.
The relative advised that Hames proceeded to enter the shed, where he allegedly grabbed what appeared to be a “short barrel shotgun.” Moments later, Hames allegedly fired a round into a berm, according to the report.
With consent from the homeowner, law enforcement searched the interior of the shed and found the following items: a 20-gauge shotgun, the “upper receiver” to another shotgun on the floor, and multiple rounds of miscellaneous ammunition including a “loose rifle round” on a table.
In addition, a “hoax bomb” consisting of a timer, oxygen tank, wires, and a separate electrical component was discovered on the floor of the shed, according to the report.
Hames spoke with deputies at the incident location and denied that any verbal altercation had occurred. He further claimed that he lived “inside the residence” and “only visits the shed,” adding that “plenty of people go to the shed.”
A criminal history search of Hames revealed that he has prior felony convictions for manufacturing methamphetamine (2011 in Marion County), possession of a weapon and/or ammunition by a convicted felon (2022 in Lake County), possession of a controlled substance and possession of methamphetamine (2023 in Marion County), and trafficking in methamphetamine (2024 in Marion County).
As a convicted felon, Hames is prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition under federal law.
Hames was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond. He is being charged with possession of a weapon or ammunition by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm or ammunition in violation of an injunction (three counts), and possession of a hoax bomb.
A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.