LETTERS: INACCURATE INFORMATION

To the editor:

The Southeast Missourian has provided two inaccurate stories concerning Zechariah L. James.

On Tuesday, Feb. 25, the Missourian reported that Zechariah L. James pleaded guilty to three counts, including armed criminal action and robbery and that he had broken into a home on Sprigg Street and brandished a knife. Being his attorney, I knew your information was blatantly false. Immediately, I contacted the Missourian and explained what the correct charge was (one count of unlawful use of a weapon) and was assured that a correction would be printed. On Wednesday, Feb. 26, I saw that the correction as printed was still incorrect and wrongfully alleged that Mr. James broke into a home.

Zechariah L. James never committed armed criminal action or robbery and was never charged with doing so. Please print this letter and a correction properly identifying his charge and sentence. Mr. James did plead guilty to unlawful use of a weapon but was not convicted in that he received a suspended imposition of sentence. He was ordered to complete the Teen Challenge program.

Properly identifying criminal defendants and verifying their correct charges needs to become more of a priority for your newspaper. Misidentifying a crime is inexcusable and cause irreparable harm.

JOHN D. HARDING

Cape Girardeau

EDITOR'S NOTE: Because of wrong information supplied to the newspaper, the Southeast Missouri published incorrect information in both a story and subsequent correction. A correction with the right information was published Thursday, Feb. 27. The Southeast Missourian regrets its errors.