Region briefs 6/27/06

Cape man pleads guilty to having child porn

A Cape Girardeau man admitted in federal court last week to possessing more than 20,000 images of child pornography on his home computer. Before U.S. District Judge Rodney W. Sippel on Friday, Terry Corbin, 56, 215 N. Henderson Ave., pleaded guilty to felony transportation and possession of child pornography, according to a news release from the office of federal prosecutor Catherine Hanaway. Corbin admitted to sending a video file of child porn to another person via e-mail on March 2, 2005. Later that day, FBI agents executing a search warrant for Corbin's Cape Girardeau home found a computer with more than 600 images of child pornography, the release stated. Corbin estimated he had at least 20,000 images. When sentenced Sept. 26, Corbin could receive up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Tamms man indicted on federal charges

Federal drug and gun charges were filed against a Tamms, Ill., man who faced police in a brief standoff in Cape Girardeau. Clifton N. Brown, 22, appeared in federal court Monday in St. Louis for arraignment. He was indicted on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and two counts of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Brown was originally charged on the state level, but those charges were dropped in light of the federal indictment. Police searched a Cape Girardeau storage locker April 18 and found 5 pounds of marijuana, four rifles and ammunition. Brown attempted to enter the locker but fled when he saw officers approaching, according to the prosecuting attorney's probable cause statement. He was later tracked to an apartment at 639 S. Sprigg St. and surrendered to police after a 20-minute standoff. Inside the apartment, police found more marijuana and two pistols with ammunition, the statement read. Details of Brown's court appearance in St. Louis were not immediately known.

Area man admits guilt in child molestation

A man accused of fondling a 5-year-old boy pleaded guilty Monday to child molestation. During an appearance before Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis, Scott A. Spreitler, 42, of Perryville, Mo., entered his plea. Spreitler admitted in court that he fondled the boy May 15 in Cape Girardeau. In exchange for his guilty plea, the prosecuting attorney's office was recommending a sentence of 12 years in prison. He was scheduled to be sentenced July 24.

Trial set for Cape man accused of beating

A trial date was set Monday for a Cape Girardeau man charged with beating his girlfriend and pulling a knife on police officers. Kenneth E. Brown, 38, of 205 S. Middle St., was scheduled for jury trial Sept. 12 on charges of felony unlawful use of a weapon and assault misdemeanor unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. On April 1, police officers responding to the home of Brown's girlfriend, 926 S. Pacific St., found the defendant kicking the 44-year-old woman in the head. As officers went to arrest him, Brown pulled out a kitchen knife, police spokesman Jason Selzer said at the time. The defendant dropped the weapon and complied with officers only when they drew their service weapons.

-- From staff reports