Region digest 01/12/05

Jackson man accused of selling stolen tools

A Jackson man was arrested Monday for allegedly selling tools stolen in a burglary at Fisher Auto Parts in Cape Girardeau. According to Cape Girardeau police, Jeffrey Alan Harker, 40, was arrested after a local business alerted police that Harker was allegedly selling tools from a vehicle. Harker is charged with second-degree burglary and stealing. A police spokesman said that the burglary charge stems from the allegation that Harker burglarized the Fisher Auto Parts store at 2350 Rust Ave. on Monday. His bond was set at $25,000.

Two Cape Girardeau men receive prison sentences

Two Cape Girardeau men were sentenced in U.S. District Court Tuesday in two separate cases. Derrick Williams, 23, was sentenced to six years in prison on a felony count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of firearms. In 2003, Cape Girardeau police traced two stolen rifles back to Williams, who admitted that he had had the firearms and knew they were stolen. He had previously been convicted of felony importation of marijuana in 1999 in California. Yolandis Patterson, 30, was sentenced to 83 months in prison for two felony counts of distribution of cocaine base. Twice in September 2003, Patterson sold cocaine base to an undercover officer.

Man in Wal-Mart sword case to be tried in June

A Chaffee, Mo., man who was arrested in November for wielding a sword in the Cape Girardeau Wal-Mart store has been scheduled for a jury trial June 9 in New Madrid County. Richard A. Taylor, 57, was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, two counts of assault of a law enforcement officer, property damage -- all felonies -- and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance. Taylor pleaded innocent Dec. 13.

Assault case to be tried in Mississippi County

A Cape Girardeau man who caught the attention of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals when he was arrested for domestic violence and animal abuse has been scheduled for a June 3 jury trial in Mississippi County. Paul Clifton Oakley, 43, will be tried for three felony counts of domestic assault, a misdemeanor count of animal abuse, and a felony filed against him later for escape from custody. Oakley was arrested Sept. 13 after a witness told Cape Girardeau police that he had assaulted his 18-year-old live-in girlfriend. He also had reportedly injured the woman's kitten. Oakley pleaded innocent Nov. 22.