Two men placed on probation for separate crimes

BLOOMFIELD -- Two men charged with separate crimes have been placed on probation for their actions, according to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn.

On Wednesday, both 17-year-old Robert Stoner and 19-year-old Robert Watkins appeared before Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen R. Sharp after Sentence Advisory Reports (SAR) were filed by the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole.

Stoner pleaded guilty to the Class C felony of theft/stealing in February. He was given a suspended imposition of sentence and placed on five years' supervised probation, with the special terms that he pay restitution to the victim of his crime.

Stoner was one of five men arrested in December 2007 by the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department and charged with stealing copper wire in Stoddard County.

Watkins also pleaded guilty in February to the Class C felony of possession of a controlled substance. He also received a suspended imposition of sentence and was placed on four years' supervised probation.

Watkins was arrested in January by the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department following a raid on a Bell City residence. Watkins was one of four men taken into custody at that time.

Sacha Champion may be reached via e-mail at schampion@dailystatesman.com