Jackson man sentenced to 10 years in prison for intent to distribute heroin

Southeast Missourian

A Jackson man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday for dealing heroin.

Circuit Judge William L. Syler Jr. sentenced William Minner, of 1232 W. Jackson Blvd., after Minner pleaded guilty Sept. 2 to charges of possession of heroin with intent to distribute, according to a news release from Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle's office.

On June 28, officers from the Cape Girardeau Police Department and the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force received information that Minner had just purchased heroin in St. Louis. They initiated a traffic stop and apprehended him at the southbound exit of Interstate 55 near the Missouri Veterans Home.

Nearly 100 heroin capsules were found in his possession. Minner admitted to paying $10 per capsule in St. Louis and told officers he could get $25 apiece for them in Cape Girardeau.

Minner had been on probation for felony burglary as of Feb. 21, 2006. Syler revoked his probation and sentenced him to five years in prison for the burglary to run concurrently with the 10-year sentence on the heroin charge.

"We don't get many heroin dealers in Cape Girardeau," Swingle said. "Judge Syler has made it very clear by his sentence that they are not welcome here."