SCOTT, MISSISSIPPI GRAND JURIES ISSUE OVER 60 INDICTMENTS

BENTON -- Grand juries in Scott and Mississippi counties have issued over 60 indictments, most of them involving drug charges, prosecutors said.

Thirty indictments were handed down in Mississippi County Feb. 5 and 31 indictments were issued in Scott County on Feb. 7, authorities said.

These are the first indictments issued since Circuit Judge Tony Heckemeyer convened the two separate grand juries in January.

Almost all of the indictments related to drug charges and most were issued against individuals who were arrested last November as a result of a nine-month undercover drug trafficking investigation. Most of the arrests occurred in Sikeston and Charleston.

Prosecutors have said the grand jury indictments will allow them to bypass the preliminary hearing stage.

Scott County Prosecuting Attorney David Dolan and Mississippi County Prosecutor Mark French said the grand juries will be meeting for six months. The terms of the grand juries are expected to end in June.

A state statute, enacted in 1989, allows county grand juries to be seated for six months. In addition, the circuit judge can also extend the term of the grand jury another 60 days.

French said the Mississippi County grand jury has been meeting regularly, usually about once a week, since being convened Jan. 28. The Scott County Grand Jury convened Jan. 22.

"I thought it was real successful," French said of the Mississippi County grand jury's initial proceedings. "They (the jurors) seemed real inquisitive."

The grand jury, said French, is now looking into allegations concerning an East Prairie "chop shop" operation.

Grand juries are uncommon in both Scott and Mississippi counties.

The Scott County grand jury is the first one empaneled since Dec. 14, 1972. Mississippi County's grand jury is the first one empaneled since 1979.

Heckemeyer, whose 33rd Judicial Circuit encompasses Scott and Mississippi counties, has said that the grand juries were requested by both prosecutors and private citizens.

Heckemeyer has said that the grand juries are expected to deal with drug cases and a "chop shop" operation, as well as look into citizen complaints about various governmental agencies.