Regional briefs 12/17/15

Sikeston man accused of several burglaries

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston man faces charges for the burglaries of several businesses. Aaron J. Presley, 37, is charged with seven counts of burglary, five counts of felony stealing, felony property damage, misdemeanor property damage and misdemeanor stealing. "Sikeston Public Safety has been working on several recent burglary cases in Sikeston's business district along East Malone Avenue," Sikeston Department of Public Safety Capt. Jim McMillen said. Evidence collected from the burglaries led police to Presley's home in the 300 block of Greer Street, where he was taken into custody, McMillen said. The home was searched, and stolen items were recovered.

Man robbed during cellphone sale

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- A Perryville, Missouri, man trying to sell his phone reportedly was robbed by the person who responded to his Craigslist ad. The Charleston Department of Public Safety received a report of a robbery at 6 p.m. Tuesday on Ada Street in Charleston. DPS director Robert Hearnes stated in a news release the suspect grabbed the cellphone from the seller, who had traveled from Perryville, and fled the area on foot. Based on a description from the victim, the suspect was identified as Marquelis Andrews, 18, of Charleston. Officers found Andrews on South Street. "When he was approached, he began to run. During the foot pursuit, he discarded a handgun that was later recovered," Hearnes said. Andrews was taken into custody later. The handgun he discarded was determined to have been stolen earlier in the month, Hearnes said. Andrews was charged with second-degree robbery, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest and unlawful use of a weapon.

East Prairie woman accused of abuse

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- An East Prairie woman is in jail after being accused of beating her child. East Prairie Police Capt. Joleda Douglas went to a residence in East Prairie on Monday after a call about suspected child abuse, according to a news release. Ashley Nichole Brown-Wyvell, the mother of the child, said her son was attacked by another student on school property, resulting in a black eye. Brown-Wyvell said she was not sending her child back to school until the black eye healed. The child was not at home when Douglas arrived. It was learned the mother took the child to the grandmother's home to look after him for a few days until the bruise healed. After an interview with the child, other injuries were discovered. The child said his mother was mad at him and whipped him with a belt. He had contusions and bruising to his face, ear, arms, legs, back and buttocks, according to the officer. After Douglas conducted an interview with Brown-Wyvell, she admitted to "freaking out" and whipping her child.

Wayne County inmate found hanged

GREENVILLE, Mo. -- The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating the hanging of a Wayne County inmate who had been convicted three days earlier of sodomizing his young niece at a family reunion. About 10:30 p.m. Saturday, 30 minutes after "lights out," Darrell Antone was found hanging in a shower area, said Wayne County Sheriff Dean Finch. The 59-year-old Topeka, Kansas, man was "still alive when we got to him," said Finch, who indicated a "clothing item" was used by Antone. Antone died at 5:34 a.m. Sunday at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center. An autopsy was performed Monday in Farmington, Missouri, and found the preliminary cause of death was by hanging. Lt. Phil Gregory, supervisor of Troop E's Division of Drug and Crime Control, said there is no suspicion of foul play. A jury convicted Antone Thursday of sodomizing his 7-year-old niece in May 2014 in the Wappello, Missouri, area. On Thursday. he was convicted of felony first degree statutory sodomy. Finch said Antone had been booked into the jail after the trial to await sentencing in February.

-- From staff reports