Perryville, Cape men sentenced in federal court

Man sentenced for gun possession

Richard Coonts, 41, of Perryville, Mo., was sentenced in federal court Tuesday to 90 months in prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

On March 31, 2002, Coonts was the driver a vehicle stopped for a traffic violation in Perryville. The officer determined Coonts was driving without a license and arrested him. A search of the truck revealed a rifle behind the seat. The previous owner of the gun told police she had given it to Coonts.

Due to his previous convictions for burglary and possession of ephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, Coonts is forbidden by law to have a gun.

Man gets 188 months on drug charges

A Cape Girardeau man was sentenced in federal court Tuesday on drug charges.

Stephen L. Hempstead, 22, was sentenced to 188 months in prison for felony possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. He appeared before U.S. District Judge Henry Autrey.

On Sept. 14, Cape Girardeau police stopped an automobile in the 400 block of South Ellis Street for a noise ordinance violation. Hempstead was a passenger in the rear seat. An odor of marijuana was noticed by the officer, who then searched Hempstead.

The officer found a plastic bag inside the belt line of the defendant's shorts. Hempstead tried to pull away and slide out of his jacket. An officer grabbed him, while Hempstead pulled an object out of his pants and tried to flee. After a struggle, the defendant was arrested and officers found his wallet, two plastic bags containing cocaine base and a bag containing marijuana.

-- From staff reports