Illinois man says he used forged check to buy car from Cape dealer

Marcus E. Davis told the judge Monday he was ready to confess -- he'd walked into a car dealership, written a check for almost $24,000 and driven off in a new car.

The check was stolen, and the signature was forged.

"I'm guilty, your honor," Davis, 29, told the judge. "There's no point in wasting anybody else's time."

The Murphysboro, Ill., man was arraigned in court Monday on one felony charge of forgery that, upon conviction, carries a possible punishment of up to seven years in prison. Prosecutors allege Davis, 29, stole checks from Zachary Huckstep and wrote one in the amount of $23,900 to a car dealer on Siemers Drive in Cape Girardeau.

"They didn't ask to see an ID?" asked an incredulous Judge Ben Lewis.

Davis shook his head that they hadn't. Davis, wearing an orange county jail jumpsuit, also told Lewis he intended to represent himself in court. When Lewis started to tell Davis that is never a good idea, Davis interrupted that a plea agreement with prosecutors was already in place.

Assistant prosecutor Angel Woodruff said she was ready to accept a plea agreement of probation if Davis could make restitution of the $23,900 -- which Davis assured he could.

Lewis said he was tempted to release Davis on his own recognizance if the prosecution was going to recommend probation. Davis had been held at the Cape Girardeau County Jail since June on a $25,000 cash-only bond.

"But if you get into any trouble ..." Lewis started.

"I promise it won't happen," Davis said. "I've got a good woman now."

Added Lewis: "If you do, you'll go to prison -- good woman or not."

In other court action Monday:

• Blaze M. Stephens pleaded guilty to felony burglary, acknowledging that he broke into the Subway restaurant in Jackson in July and stole about $1,300 in cash. On Monday, Stephens, 20, waived his scheduled arraignment and entered the plea.

Judge Lewis ordered a sentencing assessment report and set sentencing for Jan. 14.

• Theresa L. Mason, 45, of Wappapello, Mo., pleaded guilty to possessing precursor ingredients to manufacturing methamphetamine. The charges were filed by Perry County Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Hoeh. With her plea, she admitted she illegally procured pills from the Walmart store in Perryville, Mo.

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