Poplar Bluff man found guilty in vehicle assault
A Cape Girardeau County jury convicted a Poplar Bluff man of an assault yesterday in which he was accused of striking another man with his vehicle and then spinning its tires on top of him. The jury deliberated about one and a half hours before finding 46 year old Jerry Oliver Stewart guilty of felony first-degree assault, felony armed criminal action and leaving the scene of an accident. The verdict came after testimony about a Dec. 1 incident outside the Main Street bar in Poplar Bluff that left Gary Eugene Lawrence seriously injured. The state's evidence included witnesses who ran out into the street and saw Stewart's truck "sitting there with Gary under it," said Butler County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Barbour. "They watched as he squealed the tires and backed over him, up the hill on Cedar Street." Stewart, who testified on his own behalf said this was technically an accident. The jury recommended Stewart be sentenced to 10 years on the assault charge, three years on the armed criminal action and six months in the county jail on the leaving the scene charge. Sentencing is set for February 1st. This report filed by Michelle Friedrich of the Daily American Republic. You can read more in the SE Missourian.
Written By: kzim
Date Posted: 11/19/2009 10:36 AM
Number of Views: 231
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