Sikeston woman charged with sodomy

BENTON, Mo. -- A Sikeston, Mo., woman was charged Friday for having oral sex with a 16-year-old girl. Jennifer Foreman, 31, was charged with two counts of felony statutory sodomy. Bond was set at $25,000. The defendant is accused of performing oral sex with the girl in her Benton home on seven occasions between April 5 and the end of June, according to a probable-cause statement. Foreman is a friend of the victim's mother, the statement added. Police were notified when the mother found letters written to the victim from Foreman, according to Scott County sheriff's detective Gregg Ourth. The letters explained some of the details of the incidents. The sexual contact between the two was consensual, he said. If convicted, Foreman could serve up to seven years in prison for each count.

Area man charged with assaulting police officer

A 28-year-old man was charged Friday with kicking a Cape Girardeau police officer in the groin. Zechariah L. James, of 1018 S. Benton St., was being arrested early Friday morning for peace disturbance when he became belligerent in the back seat of a squad car, police spokesman Jason Selzer said. As he was taken out of the car, James kicked an officer in the groin, prompting other officers to use a Taser on him. James was charged with felony second-degree assault of a law enforcement officer and issued a $2,000 bond. Auto theft charges against James were also being pursued.

-- From staff reports