Region digest 06/04/03

Two men plead guilty to Cape hotel robbery

Two Cape Girardeau men pleaded guilty to robbery and burglary Monday in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court.

Quintayus Desnes Moore, 26, and Alex Bowen, 26, will be sentenced on July 7 in Jackson. A third charge of armed criminal action was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

The men were arrested in December along with Rosie Jackson, 23, at the Sands Motel at 1448 N. Kingshighway. Police say the three robbed a St. Louis man who was staying at the motel.

Investigators said Jackson initially went to the motel room, and shortly after she left Moore and Bowen bolted through the door, brandished a semiautomatic handgun and took cash and other property belonging to the victim.

Jackson, who faces the same charges, is set for a case review on July 14.

Manslaughter suspect to face trial in October

The driver in an August automobile accident that killed two passengers will face trial Oct. 8 for involuntary manslaughter and assault. Scott L. Bragg, 32, of Patton, Mo., appeared Monday in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court for a case review, according to Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle.

The crash on Big Bend Road killed Carl and Tracie Ford and injured another passenger, Carla Jo McNelly. Police said Bragg was driving more than 90 mph and was intoxicated.

Marble Hill man's sexual assault trial scheduled

A trial date was set Friday for a Bollinger County Sunday school teacher charged with sexually assaulting a mentally handicapped woman in a church and at his home. Marble Hill Chapel member Bruce Johnson will appear in New Madrid County Court June 10 on a change of venue.

The 23-year-old woman reportedly has the mental capacity of a 5-year-old. Two other church members are also charged with sexually assaulting her. Part-time preacher Frank Burgess, 43, had his case moved to St. Francois County, and church song leader Hurley Dixon, 67, had his case moved to Scott County.

Illegal alien pleads guilty to entering country

Ismael Espina-Perfecto, 28, of Scott County, pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to entering the United States illegally. He appeared before U.S. District Judge Henry Autrey.

Espina-Perfecto faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentencing has been set for Sept. 2 in Cape Girardeau.

With his plea, he admitted to being arrested Feb. 25 by Sikeston police on an outstanding warrant for driving without a license. Recognizing the defendant as the same man that had been deported one month before, police contacted the Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Espina-Perfecto told the court he had re-entered the country near Nogales, Ariz., on Feb. 5.

-- From staff reports