Region digest 05/10/06

Man pleads innocent to beating, knife charges

A Cape Girardeau man pleaded innocent Tuesday to charges of beating his girlfriend and drawing a knife on police officers. Kenneth E. Brown, 38, of 205 S. Middle St., entered his plea to felony burglary, domestic assault and unlawful use of a weapon before Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis. Police arrived at Brown's girlfriend's home at 926 S. Pacific St. early April 1 and say they found Brown kicking the 44-year-old woman in the head. When police tried to arrest him Brown pulled out a kitchen knife, but dropped it when an officer drew his handgun, according to police spokesman Jason Selzer.

Internet sting case set for trial in September

A trial date was set Tuesday for a man arrested in an undercover police sting for soliciting sex from a minor over the Internet. Circuit Judge David A. Dolan scheduled Irvin E. Holderbaugh, 40, of 924 E. Independence St. in Jackson, for jury trial Sept. 29. Holderbaugh, charged with attempted statutory rape, is accused of offering to have sex with a 14-year-old girl online and agreeing to meet her in Jackson City Park on March 11. The girl was actually a Bollinger County Sheriff's officer in an undercover operation to catch Internet predators. Dolan was overseeing the case in Mississippi County on a change of venue motion.

Cape teen pleads innocent to rape

A 17-year-old boy accused of raping a 14-year-old girl behind a church pleaded innocent Tuesday to felony sexual assault and misdemeanor child molestation. Robert D. L. Maglone, of Cape Girardeau, waived formal arraignment and entered his plea before Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis. The alleged rape occurred in October behind the Victory Outreach Church in Cape Girardeau.

12 boys accused in second-grader's assault

ST. LOUIS -- Twelve boys in the first and second grade at a St. Louis elementary school are accused of sexually assaulting a second-grade girl during recess, authorities said Tuesday. One teacher who was supposed to be supervising the recess has been fired, and another suspended with pay, St. Louis schools superintendent Creg Williams said. Ten of the boys, ages 6 to 8, were suspended for the rest of the school year, and the other two received in-school suspensions. The girl is physically fine but will not return to school for the rest of the school year.

4 Missouri cities among 'smart' places to live

ST. LOUIS -- A finance magazine has ranked four Missouri cities among the nation's "smart" places to live. St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia and Jefferson City all made Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine's top 50 "Smart Places to Live." The list assessed economic vitality and quality of life. Kansas City came in sixth. St. Louis was 18th, Columbia 24th and Jefferson City 35th. The top city on the list was Nashville, Tenn.

-- From staff, wire reports