Wynn may get second chance at drug court

FARMINGTON – A 21-year-old man who managed to get kicked out of St. Francois County Drug Court in just a couple days could have another chance.

Following a plea agreement, Circuit Court Judge Kenneth W. Pratte sentenced Jacob M. Wynn, of Farmington, on Friday to seven years in prison for possession of heroin. The judge will consider releasing him on five years of supervised probation if he successfully completes a 120-drug treatment program. 

After talking to the rest of the drug court team, Prosecuting Attorney Wendy Wexler Horn made the recommendation. If Wynn successfully completes the treatment program and is placed on probation, Horn will ask the drug court team to reconsider him for drug court. If they accept him, she will ask the judge to amend the conditions of his probation to include completion of the drug court program.

Horn said the drug court team still felt like they would like to work with Wynn again if possible. She added this charge was Wynn’s first felony and his co-defendant received straight probation.

On Dec. 22, Wynn was ordered by the Drug Court to enter and successfully complete a residential treatment program in Poplar Bluff. He left the treatment facility without permission on Dec. 23. He was arrested on Jan. 14 and terminated from the drug court program.

Judge Pratte told Wynn that he was getting a huge break. He reminded him that most people who get kicked out of drug court are sentenced to the maximum sentence. He said the drug court must see something in him and think that he will change.

His public defender, Amy Sanders, said Wynn realizes it is all up to him at this point.

The drug court program has tough rules. 

Participants must be at home by 10 p.m., not miss appointments for probation and substance abuse counseling, attend at least two AA or NA meetings a week, get and maintain a full-time tax-paying job, and be subject to numerous drug tests. They must also ask permission to leave the county, not associate with felons, and earn a GED if they don’t have one. They have to pay a $100 monthly fee.

Participants must successfully complete the drug court program, which lasts a minimum of 16 months, or the participants will go back to regular court where they will be sentenced. 

In other cases, James C. Kelley, 34, of Leadwood, was sentenced to five years in prison for driving while revoked and violating the probation he received for passing a bad check. The judge will consider releasing him on five years of supervised probation if he successfully completes a 120-day shock incarceration program.

Brandon Welker, 30, of Farmington, was sentenced to four years in prison for failure to pay child support. The sentence will run concurrent to his other cases. The judge will consider releasing him on five years of supervised probation if he successfully completes a 120-day shock incarceration program.

John Currington, 35, of Farmington, was sentenced to five years in prison for possession of meth and endangering the welfare of a child. The judge will consider releasing him on five years of supervised probation if he successfully completes a 120-day shock incarceration program.

James Paxton, 49, an ERDCC inmate, was sentenced to eight years in prison for possession of marijuana and possession of heroin in the prison.

Kristine R. Hake, 40, of Poplar Bluff, was sentenced to seven years in prison for attempted manufacture of meth. She had entered an Alford plea to the charge. By entering an Alford plea, she did not admit to any element of the charge but recognized there was sufficient evidence for trial. She has a prior drug conviction.

Aaron Marqua, 24, an ERDCC inmate, was sentenced to six years in prison for committing violence against a Corrections worker. According to court records, he pulled a female worker’s arm through a food port of a cell.

Lindsay Bien, 20, of Farmington, was sentenced to seven years in prison for violating the probation she received for possession of heroin. The judge will consider placing her on a new term of probation after she completes a 120-day drug treatment program. 

Terry E. Patton, 56, of Farmington, was sentenced to four years in prison for violating the probation he received for driving while intoxicated.

Erin Lea DeClue, 30, of Doe Run, was sentenced to nine years in prison for possession of a controlled substance, forgery and misdemeanor driving with a revoked license and endangering the welfare of a child.

Donald D. Monroe Jr., 29, of Farmington, was sentenced to four years in prison for violating the probation he received for failure to pay child support.

Placed on five years of supervised probation were Kenneth W. Callahan, 46, of Pilot Knob, for two counts of passing a bad check; Robert G. Bowles, 52, of Fulton, for failure to pay child support; Karen L. Queen, 41, of Desloge, for possession of meth; James L. Harris, 35, of Annapolis, for two counts of a possession of a controlled substance; Alan B. Hale, 36, of Bismarck, for driving while intoxicated; Ricky Angus, 18, of Bonne Terre, for two counts of second-degree burglary; and Taylor Pirtle, 20, of Farmington, for possession of heroin.

Two individuals pleaded guilty to charges and will be sentenced at a later date.

Patricia Huck, 48, of Ste. Genevieve, pleaded guilty to sale of marijuana.

Vonda E. Smith, 35, of Potosi, pleaded guilty to passing a bad check.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.