Man gets extra month in jail for perjury charge

JACKSON, Mo. -- A Grassy, Mo., man earned himself 30 extra days in prison and a felony conviction when he lied at his DWI sentencing hearing, prosecutors said.

Kenneth Thor Anderson, 34, was convicted of perjury Wednesday and Circuit Judge John W. Grimm sentenced him to 30 days in jail, time already served.

The perjury occurred March 14 when Anderson pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated before Circuit Judge Gary Kamp.

Anderson's criminal history report was missing from the case file, and he said under oath that he had no prior convictions other than a speeding ticket.

But Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's deputy Bradley Stotler remembered seeing Anderson in the county jail in the past.

Prosecutors said Stotler checked Anderson's records after the plea and found that Anderson had a prior criminal history including stealing, marijuana possession and attempted theft, all misdemeanors.

When Stotler reported the lie, assistant prosecuting attorney Ian Sutherland charged Anderson with perjury.

Perjury is always a felony, even in misdemeanor and civil cases, said Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle.

Anderson was the 18th person since 1989 to be prosecuted for perjury in Cape Girardeau County.

"Monica Lewinsky's comment that no one is ever prosecuted for perjury wasn't true when she said it and isn't true now," Swingle said. "Our county aggressively pursues perjury charges to remind people of the importance of testifying truthfully in court."

On March 25, Anderson was arrested and his probation was set aside. On April 8, he was re-sentenced to 20 days in jail.

Wednesday, he received a 30-day sentence for perjury and received credit for time served.