Cape man pleads not guilty to weapons charge

Matthew L. Martin, 28, waived his preliminary hearing Tuesday.

Southeast Missourian

A Cape Girardeau man charged with felony unlawful possession of a firearm pleaded not guilty to the charge Tuesday before Circuit Court Judge Benjamin Lewis.

According to the probable-cause statement, on June 1, Cape Girardeau police officer Keith May responded to the Victorian Inn, 3265 William St., where Matthew L. Martin, 28, was reportedly staying.

Martin was allegedly telling guests in the lobby he was bipolar and residing at the hotel on the advice of his psychiatrist, who said he should stay away from his wife and children who he had threatened to kill.

The affidavit said May located Martin in one of the hotel rooms and verified he had been making the statements to guests.

Martin allegedly reached for a pillow on the bed when May stopped him and found a semiautomatic caliber handgun underneath, according to the statement.

A subsequent investigation revealed that Martin was rendered emotionally impaired by the bipolar disorder, making it illegal for him to own firearms.

"This is the first time I've ever filed a charge for a person who has been judgmentally incompetent for a firearm," said Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle. "It just doesn't come up."

Martin waived his preliminary hearing Tuesday and has a case review hearing scheduled for Jan. 8.