Thebes man sentenced for attempted robbery

A convicted knife-wielding, want-to-be robber was sentenced this week to eight years in prison for an attempted Cape Girardeau theft. Hearing the case on a change of venue, Circuit Judge Fred W. Copeland handed down the sentence Tuesday to Charles W. Williams, 19, of Thebes, Ill. Williams pleaded guilty in April to attempted robbery, second- and third-degree assault in the Nov. 2 failed heist of the KFC restaurant at 2101 William St. During the attempted robbery, Williams put a knife to the throat of one employee and punched a second, according to Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle. Restaurant employees overpowered Williams, took his knife and beat him until he fled the scene. He was arrested a short time later by a Cape Girardeau police officer. Copeland, who heard the case in New Madrid County on a change of venue, could have sentenced Williams up to 23 years in prison.