Trial set for man accused of helping son flee

After having his case continued three times since May, a Cape Girardeau man is set for trial in November on charges connected with a February incident in which he is accused of helping his son flee from police.

Eddie Kent pleaded not guilty in May to felony charges of driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest or detention by fleeing. Cape Girardeau police officers have said Kent fled from them in an attempt to help his son, Eric Kent of Jonesboro, Ark., avoid arrest on outstanding warrants.

In court Monday, Kent's attorney, Gordon Glaus, requested a bench trial on the charges.

Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis set the case for trial at 9 a.m. Nov. 26.

Glaus estimated the trial would take half a day at most and told Lewis it likely would include testimony by a chemist the state plans to bring in from Jefferson City, Mo.

Eric Kent was wanted on Arkansas warrants for possession of methamphetamine, kidnapping, aggravated assault and theft when police received a tip he might be staying with his father at 2640 Hopper Road, No. 14, officers testified in April.

At a preliminary hearing in April, three Cape Girardeau police officers described the Feb. 14 pursuit in which Eddie Kent is accused of fleeing from police with his son and a female passenger in his truck.

Eddie Kent has had previous alcohol-related convictions.

In 2005, he pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated and driving while his license was suspended, and in 2007, he was sentenced to 10 days in county jail for driving on a suspended license, online court records show.

In 2010, he received a suspended sentence of four years in prison and was sentenced to 30 days in the county jail and placed on five years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to DWI and driving while his license was revoked.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

2640 Hopper Road, No. 14, Cape Girardeau, Mo.