Woman accused of biting bound over

A Cape Girardeau woman was bound over to circuit court Monday by Associate Circuit Court Judge Gary A. Kamp.

Lillie A. Dry, 39, of 1400 S. West End Blvd., is charged with first-degree felony assault of a law enforcement officer. The maximum penalty for the offense is life imprisonment.

Dry, who reportedly has Hepatitis C virus, allegedly bit the finger of a Cape Girardeau police officer trying to remove a bag of drugs from her mouth in December, 2006.

Cape Girardeau Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said due to the fact Dry had a communicable illness when she bit the officer, he charged with the first-degree felony assault of a police officer.

"Otherwise it would have been a misdemeanor assault," he said.

Dry waived her preliminary hearing Monday and has a court hearing Jan. 22 before Circuit Court Judge Benjamin Lewis.