Cape man gets seven-year sentence on gun violation

Brandon Lamont King, 29, of Cape Girardeau pleaded guilty to a class D felony of unlawful use of a firearm and was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections by Judge Benjamin Lewis.

Cape Girardeau assistant prosecuting attorney Angel Woodruff said the charge in the case was modified to exhibiting a firearm in a threatening manner from unlawful use of a weapon shooting at a motor vehicle, a class B felony. King originally was alleged to have shot at a vehicle April 4 in the 2800 block of Whitener Street, according to a probable-cause statement from Cape Girardeau police.

A class B felony can carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, and class D felony can carry a maximum sentence of seven years.

As part of the plea agreement, the prosecutor’s office dropped a charge of tampering with a witness from September. King was out of jail on bond and was accused of indirectly offering the victim in the unlawful-use-of-a-firearm case $3,500 to not testify, according to a probable-cause statement from Cape Girardeau police. During the offer, he had a black handgun on his lap, according to a witness in the report.

Lewis gave King the maximum sentence because King was regarded as a persistent felony offender. He was found guilty of second-degree assault in 2006 and 2007 and assaulting a law-enforcement officer in 2010, Lewis said.

King waived a sentencing report that would have led to a sentencing hearing. He was hesitant because he said he is supposed to get married Friday, and he was not sure how quickly he would be transferred.

“The time you get transferred is the sheriff’s business,” Lewis said. “I’m going to leave that up to the sheriff.”

Lewis also wondered whether matrimony would help King stay out of the courtroom.

“I hope you and your bride come to some kind of arrangement so you don’t end up in court so often or at all,” Lewis said. “I could do without sending you to prison anymore.”

King commented he wished Lewis would not sentence him to prison.

“That depends in large part on what happens when you get out,” Lewis said.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

2800 block of Whitener Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.