Court briefs 10/24/06

Suspect to undergo mental health evaluation

A mental health evaluation was ordered Monday for a man accused of tussling in the nude with a Cape Girardeau police officer. Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis granted a defense request for Michael McLeary to receive a mental health evaluation. McLeary, 52, of 606 S. Silver Springs Road, was charged with two counts of felony assault of a law enforcement officer and misdemeanor property damage. He is accused of attempting to choke police officers and grab at an officer's sidearm during a struggle near his home Aug. 13. During the tussle, McLeary was naked. McLeary was next scheduled to appear before Lewis Dec. 11.

Accused meth maker receives probation

An accused methamphetamine manufacturer who pleaded guilty was sentenced to probation Monday. Cape Girardeau police responded to a call of a chemical odor in June to a home at 908 S. Sprigg St. Inside, officers found meth-producing chemicals. The home's occupant, Raymond Martin, 43, and a second man, Anthony Dunivan, 36, of Oran, Mo., were each charged with felony possession with intent to manufacture meth. On Monday, Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis sentenced Martin to five years in prison, but suspended the sentence and placed the defendant on five years' probation. Dunivan was sentenced in September to nine years in prison.

Man accused of sex crime pleads not guilty

A man who officials linked to a 2001 rape by DNA evidence pleaded not guilty Monday to charges in the crime. Ontario R. Reed, 24, of Leasburg, Mo., entered his plea before Judge Benjamin Lewis for felony forcible sodomy and forcible rape. Reed, who was being held at a state correctional facility on an unrelated charge, had to supply a sample of his DNA when he was incarcerated. That DNA later matched evidence taken from the Aug. 6, 2001, rape scene, according to officials. Reed was next scheduled to appear in court Nov. 13.

Local man found guilty of drug possession

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- After about 30 minutes of deliberation, a jury Monday convicted a Cape Girardeau man of drug possession. Brittany Purl, 32, of 127 S. Lorimier St., was found guilty of possession of crack cocaine with intent to deliver. Purl was accused of participating in a drug deal March 7 at the Victorian Inn and Suites in Cape Girardeau. After several attempts, a confidential informant and officials with the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force were able to arrange a deal at a room of the inn, assistant prosecuting attorney Jack Koester said. When Purl arrived with two other people, all three were arrested. While Purl did not have any drugs on his person, he was charged as an accomplice because authorities had recorded him in telephone conversations setting up the deal, Koester said. Of his co-defendants, Avery Winks, 47, of 326 S. Lorimier St., pleaded guilty to possessing the crack and was serving eight years in prison. The second, Melissa Davis, 33, of 20 S. Sprigg St., received probation. Sentencing for Purl was set for Dec. 12 before Judge David Dolan, who oversaw the trial in Mississippi County on a change of venue. Purl could receive up to 30 years in prison.

Man with handgun eludes police

Police were searching for a man who fled from officers with a handgun. An officer on routine patrol spotted a vehicle he heard about earlier with improper plates. When the officer approached the vehicle at Hickory and Ranney streets around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, the driver reached under the seat, pulled out a handgun and ran off, according to police spokesman Jason Selzer. No arrests had been made as of Monday evening.