SOME CONFUSE PROSECUTOR'S NAME WITH ANOTHER

Marty Swindle died in a Springfield motel Tuesday after a standoff with police.

Morley Swingle's secretaries fielded phone calls from concerned people for most of the morning Wednesday after a television news report of the incident. "I guess a lot of people thought it was me," Swingle said.

Swingle, Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney, said his staff was relieved to see him when he returned from Bloomfield late Wednesday morning.

"I called in and my secretary said, 'Boy, am I glad to hear your voice,'" Swingle said. "To quote Mark Twain: 'Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.'"

Swingle was in Bloomfield for the sentencing of James William Mayhew for driving while intoxicated and leaving the scene of an accident.

Mayhew, 52, of 614 S. Pacific, was arrested on Dec. 5, after hitting Cape Girardeau police officer Dawn Frink with his car in front of the Alibi Club, 351 Christine. The accident occurred at 7:45 p.m. as Frink and officer Rodney Barker were standing near a curb. The officers had just finished serving summonses at the club.

Barker was able to jump out of the way of Mayhew's vehicle but Frink was hit on the leg. She also suffered head injuries from the accident. Mayhew's blood-alcohol level at the time of the accident was reported to be .142 percent.

Mayhew was sentenced to five years in prison for DWI and 90 days in the county jail for leaving the scene of an accident. Mayhew was also ordered into an alcohol treatment program.

Stoddard County Circuit Judge Stephen Sharp withheld jurisdiction over the first 120 days of Mayhew's sentence. If he completes the rehabilitation program, and Sharp gets a good report from the Department of Corrections, the judge has the option of suspending the rest of the prison term and placing Mayhew on probation.