Local briefs 11/7/06

Cape teen accused in attack pleads innocent

A teenager pleaded innocent Monday to charges accusing him of assaulting a disabled teenager with his own prosthetic leg. Alexander S. Harris, 17, of 1204 Bloomfield St., was charged with felony assault motivated by discrimination in the Sept. 3 attack at 921 Hackberry St. He entered his plea of innocence during an appearance before Judge William Syler. Harris is accused of assaulting an 18-year-old man and striking him with the man's prosthetic leg. Harris was next scheduled to appear in court Nov. 20.

Kelso teen accused of burglary pleads guilty

A Kelso, Mo., teenager pleaded guilty Monday to burglarizing a Cape Girardeau County business. Gavin L. Richmond, 19, entered his plea before Judge William Syler to burglary in the July 21 heist at General Sign Co. on Nash Road. Cash in the amount of $227 was stolen and $530 in damages done to the store. Syler sentenced Richmond to five years' probation. His co-defendants, Robert Ott, 19, of Scott City, and Corde Boyd, 19, of 317 High St. in Jackson, pleaded out last month and were also sentenced to probation.

Area man pleads guilty to peace disturbance

A Jackson man accused of threatening a neighbor with a knife pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and was fined $500. Darrell D. Helderman, 44, of 927 W. Independence St., taunted a neighbor while holding a knife Aug. 21, police said. He was originally charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon, but that charge was dropped when he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor peace disturbance Monday before Judge William Syler.

Homeless man allegedly stole from vehicles

Charges were filed this week against a man accused of breaking into and stealing from vehicles in Cape Girardeau. Miguel A. Juarez Figueroa, 19, no address given, was charged with felony property damage, unlawful use of a weapon, and misdemeanor stealing. He is accused of breaking into four cars near the intersection of Ellis and Themis streets Saturday morning, police Sgt. Barry Hovis said. A police officer responding to the burglary call saw the defendant attempting to break into one vehicle. Following a short foot chase, Figueroa was arrested and the officer found a knife on his person, Hovis said.

New towing rules voted in by Scott City Council

SCOTT CITY -- The Scott City Council voted 6-0 to pass new rules on the towing of disabled or damaged vehicles. Under the rules, police officers at the site of the disabled or damaged vehicle will select an approved towing company from a list maintained by the city. During Monday night's meeting, Councilman Jeff Curnell was absent for this vote but came in shortly after; Councilman Robert Tyler did not vote because he was serving as mayor pro tem in Mayor Tim Porch's absence. The council also voted 7-0 to accept a bid to replace the roof on city hall and the police department for $24,913 from Drury Co. of Cape Girardeau.

Midterm elections forum set at Southeast

Political science professors will analyze the results of today's elections at a forum at Southeast Missouri State University. The forum will be held starting at 12:05 p.m. Wednesday in Crisp Hall's Dempster Auditorium. Admission is free and the event is open to the public. Dr. Hamner Hill, chairman of the political science, philosophy and religion department at Southeast, will moderate the forum. Presenters will include Dr. Russell Renka and Dr. Rick Althaus, political science professors at Southeast; and Rick Almeida, instructor of political science.

-- From staff reports