Federal court

Cape resident pleads to federal gun charge

Gary Lee Harris, 44, of Cape Girardeau, pleaded guilty Friday in federal court to being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He appeared before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey in Cape Girardeau. During a traffic stop May 8, a Cape Girardeau officer patted Harris down, finding four .38-caliber rounds of ammunition in his pants pocket. Harris told the officer there was a firearm in the car and the officer located a loaded .38-caliber revolver under the front seat. Harris had been previously convicted of second-degree murder and assault. He now faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing was set for May 11.

Sikeston man sentenced for firearm charge

Jamaal E. Hamilton, 22, of Sikeston, Mo., was sentenced Friday in federal court to 77 months in prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He appeared before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey in Cape Girardeau. Hamilton was found in possession of a semi automatic pistol Oct. 27, 2002, by Sikeston police. He had previously been convicted in Scott County of two burglaries.

Three Cape bank robbery suspects appear in court

Three of the four suspects in the Jan. 12 robbery of a Bank of America branch in Cape Girardeau appeared in federal court Friday morning for evidentiary hearings. Toria W. Lawrence, 20, of Cape Girardeau, Derek E. Riggs, 25, of Bloomington, Ill., and Dareme P. Tipler, 24, of Charleston, Mo., appeared waived pre trial motions. The fourth suspect, Corey D. Lyons, 30, of Charleston, will have an evidentiary hearing March 12. No trial date has been set for the suspects.