A St. Joseph man will serve two years in prison for resisting arrest. Joshua Burwell pleaded guilty Monday to a class-e felony for an incident May 2.

Charging documents say officers were in the 2200 block of Union St. trying to detain Burwell for the Missouri State Highway Patrol on a vehicle pursuit the week before.

Burwell told Circuit Judge Patrick Robb that he didn’t know why the two officers were running toward his vehicle when he put it in reverse with the door open, hitting one of the officers. The officer was not seriously hurt. Police say he then drove over a grass hill and hit a neighbor’s vehicle. Burwell said officers had to break out his car window to get him out.

In court documents, officials said Burwell was arrested and methamphetamine was found in his pocket and his backpack. Under a plea bargain, prosecutors agreed not to file additional charges.

Judge Robb followed the plea agreement and ordered Burwell to serve two years. The sentence will begin when Burwell completes a four-year prison term from a 2014 vehicle-tampering case. He is already in DOC custody.

A St. Joseph man will be sentenced in August for his guilty plea Monday to child porn charges.

Todd Harris was arrested in April after investigators searched his home and seized his laptop a year ago. Police said the device contained images that were confirmed as child pornography.

Harris, 49, admitted possessing the images, but in court on Monday he was unwilling or unable to identify the Web sites where he collected the pornography.

Circuit Judge Patrick Robb found Harris guilty as charged, scheduled a sentencing assessment report, and ordered Harris to return to court August 28 for sentencing. The defendant faces up to a maximum of seven years in prison. Harris remains free on $10,000 bond.

A St. Joseph man who stole four beers from a local convenience store now faces up to four years in prison.

Randall Stout pleaded guilty Monday to a class-e felony for his fourth or subsequent stealing-related offense. He admitted opening a 30-pack and removing four beers, which he put in his backpack as he fled from the Imperial store on South Sixth Street on May 27.

Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Joshua Bachman told the judge Stout has at least seven prior stealing convictions. Court documents list guilty pleas in 2013, 2015 and 2016 to prior misdemeanor stealing charges.

Circuit Patrick Robb ordered a sentencing assessment report, and scheduled sentencing August 28 at 2pm.

A man accused of looting one vehicle while in possession of a stolen car faced a judge Monday for circuit court arraignment. A judge granted his request for a reduction in bond.

Taylor Hughes, 27, is charged with a class-d felony count of stealing a motor vehicle. In a court affidavit, police said video footage showed Hughes driving a stolen Pontiac Vibe. He parked, walked up to a pickup truck and allegedly opened the door and stole some loose change and a flashlight.

Police said in affidavit the suspect had the stolen items, as well as the key to the stolen vehicle, in his possession when officers made contact. The filing also asserts that the defendant is “an admitted drug user and homeless” and that he has prior arrests for failure to appear in court.

In court Monday, Hughes entered a plea of not guilty. Circuit Judge Patrick Robb reduced bond from $5,000 to $2,500 with a $250 cash deposit.

Hughes is due back in court for a trial-setting docket July 26 at 11:30 am.

A man being held without bail for an unusual incident with a gun is scheduled for a change-of-plea hearing Wednesday.

Curtis Hagey is charged with unlawful use of a firearm for an incident in which he allegedly fired a shot in the air, then shot himself, and then threw his gun out of his car window. Police said in court documents that Hagey admitted to “consuming and using drugs” prior to the shooting.

On Monday Hagey appeared before Circuit Judge Patrick Robb for arraignment. His lawyer said they had intended to plead guilty today, but a crowded docket forced a delay. Hagey, 23, is due back in court Wednesday.

In a court statement, St. Joseph Police Det. Jeff Pearl said Hagey went to the parking lot of an apartment building on Lafayette where his child’s mother lives on June 6. He then allegedly “…shot one bullet from a handgun into the air from his 2014 Nissan Pathfinder.” Then, he allegedly “…shot himself in the leg with a second bullet, causing himself physical injury.”

He left the scene and threw his gun out of his car window,” the court statement said. “His .38 caliber Colt revolver was located by officers in the 3300 block of Messanie Street.”

He is charged with unlawful use of a firearm while intoxicated, a class-e felony. If found guilty of that charge, he faces a sentence of up to four years in prison.

A Gower man accused of attacking a man with a baseball bat appeared in court Wednesday.

Chad Allison is charged with second-degree assault. He is accused of entering a house in the 8000 block of South U.S.Highway 169 on May 29 and attacking the resident with a baseball bat. The victim suffered serious injuries to his back and left arm, according to court documents.

Allison was arraigned on the class-d felony charge on Monday before Circuit Judge Patrick Robb. He entered a plea of not guilty. Allison is scheduled to appear before Judge Robb again on August 14 at 9 am.

He is free after posting a 10% cash deposit on a $25,000 bond.

The case of two St. Joe parents charged with child endangerment will be reassigned to another judge.

Edward and Margaret Maples were arrested after their young child was discovered in April with severe bleeding and infections on her feet. Officials say she required emergency surgery and could have lost some toes to the infection.

Prosecutors say the youngster has been taken into state custody four times in the past.

Both cases were scheduled Monday for arraignment before Circuit Judge Patrick Robb. But on a motion from the prosecutor, Judge robb certified both cases for reassignment by Judge Randall Jackson.

Both defendants remain in jail, unable to post $10,000 hybrid bonds.

(10:59 a.m.) – Road has reopened

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The St. Joseph Police Department is warning drivers to avoid the area of SE Grand DD at 43rd Service Road due to a semi blocking the roadway.

An alert was sent out around 10:07 a.m. Monday.

The road was reopened by 10:59 a.m.