Sikeston man guilty of crack charge

A Sikeston, Mo., man pleaded guilty Monday to possession of cocaine base with the intent to distribute.

James E. Cooper, 25, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau to one felony county of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base, also known as crack.

Cooper was arrested May 6 after the Sikeston Department of Public Safety answered a report of shots fired in the 800 block of Ruth Street. A detective received Cooper's consent to search for guns at his residence. The search turned up a plastic baggie containing 13.06 grams of crack. Police also seized cash and marijuana.

A subsequent search of the residence yielded two sets of digital scales with cocaine residue.

Cooper faces a maximum punishment of 40 years imprisonment and a $2,000 fine. Sentencing is set for Dec. 15.

The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul W. Hahn and heard by U.S. District Judge E. Richard Webber.