Court briefs 1/10/06

Woman pleads guilty in case involving fake fax

Thea M. Snider, 28, of 1453 Luce Drive, pleaded guilty at the Cape Girardeau County courthouse in Jackson on Monday to excusing herself from work by faxing a forged letter from her probation officer. Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis sentenced her to 30 days in the Cape Girardeau County jail on the amended charge of misdemeanor making a false declaration. County prosecutors originally charged Snider on with felony forgery when in September she faxed to her employer a letter containing numerous misspelled words, no letterhead and the signature of her probation and parole officer. Snider now faces a hearing for probation violation on Perry County drug charges that she pleaded guilty to on Jan. 27.

Prosecutors reduce charge in assault case

Appearing at the Cape Girardeau County courthouse in Jackson, Willie Higgs III, 32, of 220 N. Park, pleaded guilty to choking his 33-year-old girlfriend on the day after Thanksgiving. Cape Girardeau County prosecutors reduced charges to single count of misdemeanor domestic assault from two charges of felony domestic assault and misdemeanor child endangerment. Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis sentenced Higgs to two years probation on a suspended execution sentence. Additional conditions of probation include an anger management course and a psychiatric evaluation. Higgs said that he and his girlfriend have made amends and he said financial problems and a new baby added to his stress on the day of the incident.

Illinois woman released on bond in forgery case

Ashley N. Freeman, 19, of Jonesboro, Ill., was released on bond on Monday after she told Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis that she was pregnant and hadn't yet seen a doctor. A warrant for her arrest was issued on Nov. 28 when she failed to appear due to being incarcerated in an Illinois jail. Cape Girardeau County prosecutors charged Freeman with a single count of forgery after she and three other accomplices purchased $9,700 of merchandise with up to 65 checks at retail businesses in Jackson and Cape Girardeau.

Cape man sentenced in South Hanover sting

Marlon L. Turner, 30, of 623 Jefferson Ave., received concurrent sentences of seven years in prison for selling crack cocaine when he appeared at the Cape Girardeau County courthouse in Jackson on Monday before Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis. He pleaded guilty to two class B felony counts on Dec. 12 and county prosecutors dropped two charges. Turner's charges stemmed from a 2 1/2 month undercover drug sting conducted by Cape Girardeau Police and the SEMO Drug Task Force on South Hanover Street.

-- From staff reports