Cape man awaiting sentencing in Belleville shooting

A Cape Girardeau man is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to aggravated battery with a firearm in connection with the Feb. 9, 2014, death of a Belleville, Illinois, man.

Anthony P. Allen, 22, and two other suspects were arrested Feb. 9, 2014, after Darrin B. Hayes, 25, was found dead of gunshot wounds in his Belleville apartment, Lt. Michael Hundelt, deputy commander of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, said in a news release at the time.

Allen initially was indicted on a charge of first-degree murder, but an employee in the St. Clair County, Illinois, circuit clerk's office said Tuesday that Allen pleaded guilty April 7 to aggravated battery with a firearm in exchange for having the murder charge dropped.

The Belleville News-Democrat reported Hayes' children -- a 2-year-old and an infant -- were in the apartment during the shooting but were not harmed.

After discovering Hayes, officers issued an Illinois State Police Emergency Radio Network broadcast about a vehicle that had been seen leaving the area. Later that day, an officer stopped a vehicle matching the description and detained the driver, identified by the News-Democrat as Allen, on unrelated charges.

Amanda Kent

The officer found possible evidence inside the vehicle, Hundelt wrote in the February 2014 news release.

The Major Case Squad eventually arrested four people in connection with the shooting, Hundelt wrote.

St. Clair County State's Attorney Brendan Kelly filed charges against Allen; Amanda M. Kent, 27, of O'Fallon, Illinois; and Brittney Y. Moore, 25, of Belleville.

Kent initially was charged with first-degree murder, and Moore was charged with felony obstruction of justice.

According to online court records, Moore pleaded guilty Friday to misdemeanor obstruction of a police officer in exchange for having the felony charge dropped.

Brittney Moore

Kent, who remains in custody, pleaded guilty Feb. 18 to conspiracy to commit an armed robbery, online court records show. She is scheduled for sentencing Aug. 4.

Allen is set for sentencing Aug. 20 in front of St. Clair County Circuit Judge John Baricevic.

It was not immediately clear why Allen was in Belleville, whether he knew Hayes or what might have prompted the shooting.

Online court records show Allen has a history of drug offenses.

In September 2013, he pleaded guilty in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri, to possession of a controlled substance.

Allen pleaded guilty to an identical charge in March 2013 in Cape Girardeau County, and in July 2013, he pleaded guilty in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court to resisting or interfering with arrest.

smaue@semissourian.com

388-3644

Pertinent address:

Belleville, Ill.