Region digest 04/13/06

Woman reports break-in near Oran

ORAN, Mo. -- A man and woman broke into a rural Scott County home Wednesday, and the sheriff's department asked for the public's help in capturing them. The break-in occurred late morning in a home near Oran, according to a news release from the sheriff's department. When the home's resident answered a bell at the front door, there was no one there. As she was walking to the back of her home, the resident saw a woman and man standing inside near a back doorway, the release stated. They ran out and fled in a small, blue, four-door car. The vehicle had numerous stickers on the rear window and trunk, and had Missouri license plates. Anyone with information on the vehicle or suspects were encouraged to call the Scott County Sheriff's Department at (573) 545-3525 or (573) 471-3530.

Cape man charged with fleeing police

A 18-year-old man was charged Wednesday with fleeing from Cape Girardeau police who were questioning him about an Illinois burglary and assault in which he was suspected. Police found Perry L. Foulks while searching a home at 336 N. Sprigg St. Tuesday, according to a probable-cause statement. The detective, who was accompanied by an Illinois State Police detective, also found a .38-caliber revolver in an upstairs bedroom, the statement said. After the detective called an evidence technician for the gun and told Foulks he would be detained, Foulks ran up the stairs, grabbed the gun, jumped from a porch roof and fled. He was later arrested about an hour later. Foulks, of the Sprigg Street address, was charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon for a carrying a concealed weapon and misdemeanor resisting a lawful detention. Bond was set at $15,000 cash only. The Illinois crimes occurred in East Cape Girardeau on March 27, according to Cape Girardeau police Sgt. Barry Hovis.

Fire damages Scott City home; residents escape

A fire Tuesday evening destroyed a Scott City home, but no one was injured. Firefighters responded to 214 Chester St. at 8:24 p.m. and found flames engulfing the basement of the one-story house, according to Scott City deputy fire chief Billy Crump. The flames spread up the walls, damaging the bathroom and cabinets in the kitchen, he said. The home was likely not salvageable and about $50,000 worth in damage was done, Crump said. Investigators had not been able to determine the cause of the blaze, which was not considered suspicious. A teenager and an adult were home when the fire broke out but escaped in time, according to Crump.

Two men sentenced on unrelated drug charges

Two Scott County men were sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for unrelated drug charges. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced Derrick Atterberry, 21, of Sikeston, Mo., and Donald Smith, 35, of Scott County, each to 37 months in prison, according to a news release from federal prosecutor Catherine Hanaway. Atterberry previously pleaded guilty to felony possession with intent to distribute cocaine. On Sept. 23, 2004, he was arrested in Sikeston with possession of 29 baggies of crack cocaine. Smith was stopped March 31, 2005, by a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper, who found the defendant had 8.2 grams of methamphetamine. Smith pleaded guilty to felony possession with intent to distribute meth.

Kennett man admits selling 38,000 pills

A Kennett, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court this week to illegally possessing a methamphetamine-producing drug. Arthur E. Kemp II entered his plea to three counts of unlawful possession of pseudoephedrine Tuesday before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey. Kemp admitted to diverting 38,000 30-milligram pills from a local business over a five-month period in early 2005, according to a news release from federal prosecutor Catherine Hanaway. He then sold the pills to an individual who used them to make meth. When Kemp is sentenced July 11, he could face up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Poplar Bluff man gets prison on cocaine charge

A federal judge sentenced a Butler County man to 100 months in prison for cocaine. Tommy Hardaway, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., received the sentence Tuesday from U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey on a felony count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. Poplar Bluff officers were looking for a fugitive believed to be in Hardaway's home on Aug. 11 when they saw the defendant throw a bag into the backyard of the residence, a release from federal prosecutor Catherine Hanaway stated. Inside the bag, officers found 18.4 grams of crack cocaine that Hardaway admitted was his. When arrested on Nov. 30 for those charges, 16.4 grams of crack were found in his home, according to the release.

Man sentenced for crystal meth distribution

A 26-year-old man who pleaded guilty to distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey handed down the sentence Tuesday to Joe A. Rodriguez, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., according to a news release from federal prosecutor Catherine Hanaway. Poplar Bluff officers executed Texas arrest warrants for Rodriguez on Oct. 27 and found four ounces of crystal meth, a set of gram scales and $1,982 in cash. The defendant admitted to buying "ice" meth out of state, and then selling it in Southeast Missouri since August, according to the release.

Pill purchase results in 87 months in prison

An Arkansas man caught buying pseudoephedrine pills in Southeast Missouri to manufacture methamphetamine was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison. Dennis L. Myrick Jr., of Gosnell Ark., had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of pseudoephedrine and was sentenced Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey. Myrick bought 2,500 pills from a confidential informant on July 1 in Kennett, Mo., according to a news release from federal prosecutor Catherine Hanaway. The defendant admitted to Bootheel Drug Task Force officers he planned to use the pills to make meth.

St. Louis man gets 120 months on meth charges

U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey sentenced a St. Louis man to 120 months in prison on meth charges. Joseph Figliolo, 44, had previously pleaded guilty to attempt to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of pseudoephedrine with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. Autrey sentenced Figliolo on Tuesday, a news release from federal prosecutor Catherine Hanaway stated. On March 12, 2005, a Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force officer saw numerous pseudoephedrine pills fall to the ground as Figliolo pulled up his pants. Other items associated with the manufacture of meth were found inside a car Figliolo was traveling in.

-- From staff reports