BENTON - A Sikeston man has pled guilty and sentenced to serve two, 10-year sentences in prison for selling "crack" cocaine twice to an undercover SEMO Drug Task Force Agent.
Eric D. Moore, 20, was sentenced by Judge David Dolan to serve 10 years in prison for each offense.
According to reports, on July 8, 2000, an undercover agent with the SEMO Drug Task Force made contact with Moore through a confidential informant.
All three of these individuals met at Moore's home, 219 Gladys St., to discuss the drug transaction. A short time later, the undercover agent and Moore met at a carwash in Sikeston and Moore directly handed the agent the "crack" cocaine. This sale was for approximately $400 worth of "crack" cocaine.
On July 13, 2000, another sale took place between Moore and the same undercover agent. This time the sale took place at an undisclosed residence in Sikeston. This time the sale was for approximately $500 worth of "crack" cocaine.
Rather than face these charges at trial, Moore chose to plead guilty. As a result of negations with the Scott County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, both of Moore's sentences will be served at the same time for a total sentence of 10 years. The earliest Moore could expect to receive consideration for parole would be in about four years.
According to Prosecuting Attorney Paul Boyd, this case is significant in that Moore did not have any prior felony convictions on his record. "Probation and a slap on the wrist are not what is in store for drug dealers in Scott County," Boyd said. "Selling drugs can put you on the fast track to prison, even if it is your first offense."
According to reports, at the conclusion of the second drug sale on July 18, 2000, Moore bragged to the undercover agent that he could get him any amount of dope he wanted. After being sentenced to prison on Nov. 21, 2000, Moore may not be able to live up to that promise for awhile.