Man faces prison term for stealing from grandfather

FARMINGTON — A Ste. Genevieve man faces 10 years in prison for stealing from his grandfather.

Circuit Court Judge Sandra Martinez sentenced 20-year-old Travis Weiss to five years for second degree burglary and five years for stealing. Those sentences will run consecutive to each other but concurrent to a five year-sentence for receiving stolen property. The judge sentenced him to an institutional treatment program because he has a drug problem. The judge will reconsider giving him probation after 120 days.

Prosecutors requested restitution if Weiss is placed on probation.

The judge warned Weiss that 10 years is a huge amount of time hanging over him and he would not be released if there are any violations reported during the treatment program. The judge added the man’s insensitivity toward his family was a concern.

Weiss pleaded guilty to all three counts Jan. 10.

According to court records, Weiss broke into his grandfather’s home in St. Francois County a few times, stealing guns, jewelry, a chain saw and a weed eater, which he pawned at local pawn shops. Weiss told police he used the money to make payments on his car.

In another case, a Farmington Correctional Center inmate pleaded guilty to possessing marijuana in a prison.

Anthony Zinna, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing drugs Friday. He waived his right to a presentence investigation report which is compiled by the State Board of Probation and Parole and was sentenced by Judge Martinez to five years in prison. The sentence will run consecutive to his current sentence.

According to court records, corrections officers searched Zinna Oct. 26, 2000 after receiving information he had drugs. When an officer grabbed his left hand, Zinna jerked his hand away, put his hand to his mouth and swallowed something.

Zinna was then placed in a cell under drug monitoring status. Officers were able to recover 4.5 grams of marijuana.

In an unrelated case, another Farmington inmate pleaded guilty to possessing marijuana in a correctional facility.

Phillip Sprock, 43, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a controlled substance Friday. He waived his right to a presentence investigation report and was sentenced to five years in prison. The sentence will run consecutive to his current sentence.

According to court records, corrections officers observed Sprock sitting on a bunk next to a plastic bag that contained marijuana. Officers asked who owned the marijuana and Sprock replied that they could write him up for it.

When he was questioned later, Sprock said he was unaware there was marijuana was on the bunk. He said his earlier statement to officers was not an admission of guilt and he did not know who the marijuana belonged to.

In another case, Michael Casey of Ste. Genevieve pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated as a persistent offender.

Casey waived his right to a presentence investigation report and was sentenced by Judge Martinez to three years in prison. The sentence will run concurrent to the sentence he is already serving.

In another case, Teri Jean Lambert, 21, of Perryville was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to forgery.

Lambert pleaded guilty to two counts of forgery Friday. As part of a plea agreement, four counts of forgery were dismissed.

She waived her right to a presentence investigation report and was sentenced by Judge Martinez to three years in prison. The sentence will run concurrent to the time she is already serving.

According to court records, the Division of Senior Services discovered checks were missing from a woman who was receiving home health services. Lambert had worked for a home health care service but was terminated about that time because she failed to show up.

When questioned, Lambert confessed she stole all but two of the checks. Lambert was on probation for forgery and even had a case pending in Perryville at the time of the offense.

In another case, Carol Ann Paisley of Ironton pleaded guilty to one count of issuing a check on a nonexistent account. As part of a plea agreement, a second count was dismissed and time to be served was capped at three years.

Judge Martinez ordered a presentence investigation report and set formal sentencing for May 9.

In another case, Jimmy Butler, 41, of Farmington was placed back on probation after violating his original probation. The judge suspended the execution of a five-year-sentence for failing to pay child support.