Court briefs 3/22/06

Man gets five years for shooting girlfriend's van

A Jackson man who admitted to shooting a van his girlfriend was driving was sentenced by Circuit Judge William Syler to five years' imprisonment. Ronald Creecy, 42, of 114 Sage Lane, was intoxicated when he opened fire with a .22-caliber pistol at his girlfriend's van on Jan. 19, according to assistant prosecuting attorney Jack Koester. He was charged with and pleaded guilty Monday to unlawful use of a weapon, Koester said. The shooting occurred at Highway 177 and U.S. 61 near Fruitland after a quarrel between Creecy and his girlfriend. Creecy fired two to three shots, striking the van. No one was injured.

Accused drug dealer enters guilty plea

A man who fled and attempted to hide in his Cape Girardeau garage when police busted a drug deal he was conducting pleaded guilty Monday. Theon Mackins, 21, of 1451 Rose St., entered his plea before Circuit Judge William Syler for trafficking drugs, resisting arrest and misdemeanor driving with a suspended license. A fourth charge, distribution of marijuana, was dropped. Mackins was scheduled to be sentenced April 17 and could receive up to 15 years' imprisonment, according to Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle. On Nov. 9, Mackins was making a drug sale in Capaha Park to a confidential informant when police attempted to arrest him for the crime, Swingle said. Mackins fled the scene by driving through the park, nearly striking an undercover officer, and drove into his garage. When Mackins refused to leave his vehicle, police Tasered him and broke out the driver's side window to remove him, Swingle said.

Cape man gets five years for domestic assault

Circuit Judge William Syler sentenced a Cape Girardeau man to five years' imprisonment for domestic assault. Ramont Noldon, 27, of 3019 Aspen Drive, pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced Monday, Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said. Noldon was accused of attacking his 26-year-old girlfriend on Feb. 23 when she responded that she was fine with him moving to St. Louis. According to Swingle, the defendant slapped, shoved and choked the victim. Mackins also cut her hair and is accused of sexually assaulting her with a coathanger, Swingle added. Charges of deviant sexual assault and second-degree domestic assault count were dropped as part of the plea agreement with prosecutors.

-- From staff reports