Cape man pleads guilty to distribution charge

A former Cape Girardeau resident pleaded guilty Tuesday to three felony drug charges, including possession with intent to distribute.

James Ward Scaggs, 22, of St. Louis insisted he wasn't a drug dealer. He told Judge John W. Grimm he was pleading guilty to the charges because he would have shared drugs with his friends, not sold them.

Under state law, the intent to distribute charge includes any transaction in which illegal drugs change hands.

According to court records, Scaggs and his roommates, Jerry David Robison and Richard Matthew Williams, were arrested July 23 for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Afterward, officers searching the group's South Spanish Street apartment uncovered 47.8 grams of marijuana, 31.4 grams of cocaine and some Ecstasy tablets.

A fourth suspect was caught when he called Scagg's cell phone during the search and arranged a drug deal, police said.

Volcan Hacigumus, 24, of 207 Alpine was charged with felony possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

In December, Robison and Hacigumus pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance. Williams' case is still pending.