Cape man faces 15 years on drug charge

A quarter-pound of marijuana hidden under a car seat has a 39-year-old Cape Gir-ardeau man facing up to 15 years in prison.

A Pemiscot County jury found Gregory I. Campbell, 39, of Cape Girardeau, guilty Monday of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. The trial was held in Pemiscot County on a change of venue from Cape Girar-deau County. Sentencing has been set for Nov. 19.

The jury acquitted Campbell of charges of possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Campbell remains free on a bond of $35,000 until sentencing.

Defense attorney Stephen Wilson did not rule out the possibility of appealing the conviction.

"We're still looking into it and won't make a decision until after the sentencing," Wilson said. "However, there were a number of things in the trial that I believe were improper and prejudicial."

Campbell was acquitted in May 2000 of allegedly assaulting a police officer during an incident that ignited a riot in June 1999 and stressed police relations in south Cape Girardeau. He alleged officers made racial slurs during the incident, prompting an FBI investigation. The Justice Department found no wrongdoing on the part of the police.