MAN SENTENCED IN ROBBERY OF PIZZA RESTAURANT AT FRUITLAND

PERRYVILLE -- A Hillsboro man received 15 years in prison Friday for part of his actions in a three-county crime spree in 1998.

One county court down, two more to go.

The 15-year sentence was given to Michael Louis Marshall by Judge John Grimm for holding up the Pizza Haus restaurant in Fruitland with a shotgun, which he fired in the direction of two people before leaving. He was sentenced in Perry County on a change of venue from Cape Girardeau County.

Marshall still faces charges of robbery and armed criminal action for a robbery in New Madrid County, and armed criminal action and assaulting a police officer in Pemiscot County.

The Cape Girardeau prosecutor's office was seeking 30 years on the two charges, said Lora Cooper, assistant prosecutor. Marshall will still be required to serve 85 percent of his sentence before parole is considered, Cooper said.

All of the charges faced by Marshall are class A felonies. A class A felony is punishable by 10 to 30 years in prison, or life imprisonment.

What turned out to be a very bad day for Marshall on April 8, 1998, started at the now defunct Pizza Haus. After taking money from the cashier at gunpoint, Marshall drove south on Interstate 55 to the Cottonboll Motel in Marston.

After eating and having a beer at the motel's restaurant, he went to his truck, got his shotgun, and demanded money from the front desk attendant. This time he didn't fire his weapon.

As Marshall drove off, police in the region were being informed of his crimes. His vehicle was later spotted by a Hayti policeman, who followed him from the interstate down a rural road.

At one point, Marshall stopped his truck. When the police officer got out to approach, Marshall tried to run him over.

Moments later, Marshall stopped the truck and attempted to run off. He was stopped by the police officer.