Convicted robber, convicted burglar sentenced to probation

Bourbon County District Court Judge Mark Ward handed down sentences of probation Thursday to a convicted robber and a convicted burglar in two separate cases.

Probation for robbery

A judge sentenced a 26- yearold Fort Scott man to two years probation for his involvement in back-to-back robberies last year.

Moses L. Burton will be on intensive supervised probation until 2009, followed by 12 months of post-release supervision. If Burton violates terms of the probation, he'll be sent to prison for nearly 4 years.

Last July, Burton cornered Dakota Cox, Fort Scott, beat him up and told him to empty his pockets. Burton stole a pack of cigarettes, according to Fort Scott Police. Cox was uninjured and no weapons were used.

A short time later, Burton jumped Michael D. Long on north National Avenue and stole his wallet.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery. The Bourbon County Attorney's Office originally charged him with robbery, but reduced the charges to conspiracy, a lesser charge.

Sixth Judicial Judge Mark Ward ruled the two charges, which were each 29 months, run consecutively to each other. The sentence term was based on the Kansas sentencing guidelines that take Burton's criminal history into account in establishing a sentencing range.

Burton has had an extensive criminal history dating back to 1997, when he was convicted in Linn County twice for battery and twice for burglary. In Bourbon County, Burton was convicted of aggravated assault, criminal damage and theft between 2000 and 2003.

Probation for burglary

A Fort Scott man was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to breaking into a storage unit and residential home in March.

Brian M. Newsom, 20, will serve the 24- month intensive, supervised probation followed by 12 months of post-release supervision.

Newsom pleaded guilty in April to two counts of felony burglary. He was sentenced to two consecutive 12- month terms for each of the charges. Newsom pleaded guilty because Bourbon County Attorney Terri Johnson agreed not to recommend prison time, according to court documents.

On March 14, four storage units were burglarized at a storage facility at 616 Short St. Three others showed signs of attempted burglary. Various items were stolen, including a welder, diesel fuel and coins, according to records.

Fort Scott police arrested Newsom and Jerrod J. Fredrick, 19, at the storage facility after receiving a tip from a resident who heard noises coming from the area.

Fredrick has a plea hearing pending.

Inside the car the two were using, police found items linking them to four burglaries that occurred before they hit the storage units. A residential house at 703 Osbun St. was entered and a jewelry box was allegedly swiped.

According to the plea agreement, Newsom pleaded guilty to breaking into one of the storage units and to the house on Osbun Street.

In addition to the two burglaries, police took numerous reports from residents who claimed their property was entered and items stolen.