by KENNETH FRY, Press Argus-Courier Editor Monday, October 29, 2007 9:04 AM CDT
Circuit Judge Gary R. Cottrell ruled Wednesday there was sufficient evidence to hold a Van Buren woman following her arrest for robbery and theft of property.
Cottrell set bond at $5,000 for Cecilia Crain, 24, who was arrested Oct. 22 by Officer Lance Dixon of the Van Buren Police Department.
Prosecuting Attorney Marc McCune said police allege Crain went to a local residence, kicked in the door and punched a 77-year-old man in the mouth before stealing his wallet.
If released from the Crawford County Detention Center, Cottrell ordered Crain to have no contact with the man she is accused of robbing.
Also on Wednesday, Stephen Ray Sevenstar, 35, and Larry Ray Evans, 19, both of Rudy pleaded guilty to stealing a four-wheeler and dirt bike from a garage on Crestwood Drive on Feb. 17. Sevenstar was charged with theft by receiving; Evans theft of property and breaking or entering.
Both had five-year prison sentences suspended on the condition they pay $2,300 restitution. Sevenstar will pay a $1,000 fine, $170 court costs, $250 for DNA sampling and $100 attorney's fee. Evans will pay a $500 fine, $170 court costs, $250 for DNA sampling and $100 attorney's fee and perform 30 days of community service.
Drenda Jo Swaim, 49, of Van Buren pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia and was placed on three years supervised probation during which time she will be randomly drug tested and attend at least two Narcotics Anonymous meetings a week for a year. She will pay a $3,500 fine, $170 court costs, $250 for DNA sampling and $125 drug task force fee. Her driver's license was suspended for six months.
A felony possession of drug paraphernalia charge again her husband, Larry Allen Swaim, 51, were reduced to misdemeanor possession of an instrument of crime. He had a one-year jail sentence suspended on the condition he pay a $1,000 fine and $170 court costs.
The Swaims were arrested Feb. 6 after Drenda Swaim lost her wallet which allegedly contained meth and paraphernalia, according to Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Robert Presley.
