court briefs

Man to serve three years for setting cars on fire

A Cape Girardeau County jury sentenced a 45-year-old Cape Girardeau man who set fire to two of his neighbor's cars to three years in prison on Monday. Johnny W. Dunger, of 512 N. Middle St., pleaded guilty to two counts of knowingly burning in February. Dunger set fire to the vehicles on June 14 after a dispute with the victims. Dunger paid more than $3,000 to each of the victims in restitution to have his sentence run concurrently. "I had agreed with the defense that if Johnny Dunger would pay the restitution for each of the two cars that he burned prior to his sentencing that I would recommend that the two three-year sentences run concurrently," said Morley Swingle, Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney.

Man sentenced to eight years for laptop theft

A Cape Girardeau man accused of stealing a laptop computer from Best Buy last month is nowin prison. Alberto V. Winfield, 24, of 114 S. Pacific St., was sentenced to eight years imprisonment by Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge William Syler after he pleaded guilty to an amended charge of felony stealing Monday. Winfield waived his presentence investigation and was taken to prison after his hearing, said Morley Swingle, Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney. Winfield originally was charged with felony robbery. Swingle said he accepted the plea, which carried a maximum seven-year prison sentence if convicted, because Winfield used little force when he brushed past a store employee as he fled with the computer. "He sort of elbowed by the employee," at the door, Swingle said. "No weapon or violence were used, so I amended that to felony stealing." Swingle said Winfield is a prior persistent offender, an additional year was added to his sentence.

-- From staff reports