Cape Girardeau man gets 12 years in prison

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- A Cape Girardeau man shouted profanities in a Bollinger County courtroom Wednesday after being sentenced to 12 years in prison for assault and brandishing a knife.

Complaining loudly, 53-year-old George Pongrass was led from the courtroom with his legs shackled and hands cuffed.

Associate Circuit Judge Scott Thomsen handed down the sentences at the Bollinger County Courthouse in Marble Hill on a change of venue from Cape Girardeau County.

Pongrass received seven years in prison for assault and five years for unlawful use of a weapon.

He will serve at least 80 percent of his sentence because he has been to prison at least three times in the past.

His history includes convictions for rape, stealing, DWI, leaving the scene of an accident, property damage, breaking and entering, battery, receiving stolen property and petty larceny.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Angel Woodruff handled the case for Cape Girardeau County.

Pongrass was charged with punching and kicking Stephen Elliot, 48, at Pongrass's apartment at 1015 Bloomfield Road on Nov. 2, 2000.

Elliot had a broken arm and other injuries. Pongrass also flourished a knife at both Elliot and Elliot's brother, Larry Elliot.

Larry Elliot, whose cheekbone was crushed in the attack, escaped and called police.

The Elliots told police they had been drinking with Pongrass and Rusty Glasener before being robbed and assaulted by them.

Pongrass initially pleaded guilty and then filed a motion to withdraw the plea prior to sentencing.

Thomsen rejected the motion.

Glasener previously pleaded guilty to two counts of assault in the second degree. He received two concurrent seven-year sentences.