BENTON - A Sikeston armed robbery case will be heard by jurors in St. Charles County.
Stoddard County Associate Circuit Judge Joe Satterfield ordered the case of Troy Fenton, who is charged with the robbery of Super D Drug Store in Sikeston on Oct. 13, 2001, to be tried in St. Charles.
Following the robbery, Fenton exchanged gunfire with police at the Mini-Farms subdivision north of Sikeston off Highway HH. During the exchange of fire, Sikeston Department of Public Safety Lt. Mark Crocker was shot in the lower leg. From that incident, Fenton was arraigned in April on charges including first degree robbery of a pharmacy and first degree assault of a law enforcement officer.
Following his arraignment, Jacob Zimmerman, who is Fenton's attorney, filed a motion requesting a change of venue. The Missouri Supreme Court assigned Satterfield to determine what county the case would be venued to after hearing requests by both parties.
"Requesting a change of venue is a pretty common practice by criminal defendants in high profile cases, especially in a case of this magnitude," said assistant Scott County prosecuting attorney Gregory Spencer. He said in counties with a population under 75,000 a criminal defendant has an automatic right granted by the Missouri Court to a change of venue.
"It would have been nice to have been able to have the trial in this case in Scott County," continued Spencer, who will be prosecuting the case. "However, St. Charles County is a fair compromise. I have personally received assurances from the St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney's office that they will accommodate us in any way they can." He said St. Charles County has pledged the use of their offices and conference rooms if they are needed.
"I have every confidence that the state of Missouri will receive a fair trial in St. Charles." He said a trial date can probably be expected sometime late this year or early next year.