Suspended prison sentence for Cape man who wrapped self in plastic, threatened wife

A Cape Girardeau man who threatened to kill his wife after wrapping himself in plastic bags and displaying weapons to her was sentenced Monday to five years of supervised probation.

Circuit Court Judge Benjamin F. Lewis granted Joshua D. Wright, 23, a suspended imposition of a prison sentence for the felony charge of unlawful use of a weapon. Wright was sentenced to 30 days in the county jail for misdemeanor assault but was given credit for time served.

Wright, who pleaded guilty to both charges in April, was in custody from March 10 to April 12. At his plea hearing, Lewis released Wright, ordering him not to have any contact with the victim.

As a condition of his probation, Wright must complete an inpatient program at Strong Tower Ministries, a Texas-based rehabilitation center that focuses on fighting addiction and setting life goals.

Wright's attorney, Mary Patricia Tucka, said her client has been in the program for about a month and was doing well, according to representatives of the center.

"This has really shown him he's heading down the wrong path," Tucka said. "Substance abuse is something he wants to address."

Lewis also ordered Wright to complete an anger management program, based on the details of the case.

Wright's wife, the victim in the case, said she arrived at their residence March 9 after the couple had a fight to find Wright wrapped in trash bags from his neck to his feet. He told her he didn't want to get blood on himself when he killed her, she said in a statement to police.

The weapons Wright displayed on a coffee table included a knife with her name written on the blade, a second knife with her ex-boyfriend's name written on the blade and a broken wooden stick about 26 inches long.

The victim told officers she and her husband were fighting because she had lunch with an ex-boyfriend.

"This is your first felony experience," Lewis said to Wright before sentencing. "While this was a pretty dramatic incident, society does have an interest in your future employability. With a felony on your record, that will be nearly impossible."

ehevernsemissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

820 S. Pacific St., Cape Girardeau, MO