Court briefs 7/29/03

Cape man pleads guilty to domestic assault

A Cape Girardeau man pleaded guilty Monday to charges of domestic assault in Cape Girardeau Circuit Court.

Bobby E. Reed, 39, of Cape Girardeau admitted he hit his wife in the face with his fist on March 8 and cut his brother's upper right arm with a pocketknife April 3 after an argument at a gas station parking lot. The brother, John L. Reed, 41, was treated and released at Southeast Missouri Hospital for a 3-inch cut.

Circuit Judge John Heisserer ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for Sept. 8. Reed was released on his own recognizance until that date but was ordered to not have contact with the victims.

August shooting suspect enters guilty plea

A 21-year-old man pleaded guilty Monday in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court to breaking into a home and shooting the resident.

Cornelius Johnson, 21, admitted he entered 143 S. Spanish St. on Aug. 5 and shot John Murphy with a handgun during a home-invasion style burglary. He pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, first-degree burglary and armed criminal action.

His accomplice, Ivory C. Alexander, 19, pleaded guilty July 14 to first-degree attempted robbery. Alexander will be sentenced Aug. 4.

Murphy was shot trying to escape the house. The bullet pierced his left arm, went through his torso, exiting the other side, and became lodged in his right wrist.

In exchange for his plea, Johnson's assault charge was amended from first- to second-degree and a first-degree attempted robbery charge was dismissed.

A pre-sentence investigation was ordered by Judge John Heisserer and sentencing was set for Aug. 25. Johnson previously pleaded guilty in August 1999 to burglary and stealing a motor vehicle.

Robber of Stogies Texaco sentenced to 15 years

An Illinois man received a sentence of 15 years in prison Monday in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court for robbing a Jackson convenience store.

A tip from an informant led to the January arrest of Anthony S. Mims, 33, of Collinsville, Ill., nearly two years after he robbed the Stogies Texaco on East Jackson Boulevard on June 20, 2000. Investigators said he used a gun to force store clerks to give him money.

The tipster, an inmate arrested on a probation violation Nov. 19, told investigators that Mims showed up at a house in Fredericktown, Mo., with $200 to $300 in cash, a gun and some beer and admitted to robbing the store.

Investigators contacted the store clerks that were working the night of the robbery. Within seconds of being shown a photo lineup, the two clerks identified Mims as the man who robbed the store.

Mims is currently serving time in an Illinois prison on an unrelated theft charge, investigators said.

Former officer pleads innocent to charges

Former Cape Girardeau police narcotics detective Paul E. Tipler, 35, appeared for arraignment Monday in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court.

Tipler pleaded innocent to felony charges of stealing, two counts of tampering with evidence, distribution of a controlled substance, two counts of forgery and misdemeanor charges of possession of a defaced firearm -- the serial numbers were marred -- and two counts of patronizing prostitution.

Tipler was fired from the Cape Girardeau Police Department in December after internal and Missouri State Highway Patrol investigations.

His next appearance was set for Aug. 25.