Posted: Thursday, June 25, 2009 12:58 pm

Officials with the Pulaski County Circuit Court have reported the following actions in recent cases: Earnest L. Mentola, 26, of Waynesville, waived a June 24 preliminary hearing on a Class B felony charge of sale of a controlled substance accusing him of selling nine tablets containing oxycodone to an undercover state trooper on Dec. 20, 2005. Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren bound the case over to circuit court for a July 8 arraignment. Christopher M. Haggith, 19, of St. Robert, waived a June 24 preliminary hearing on a Class C felony charge of stealing accusing him of taking a red 2002 Chevrolet pickup without the owner’s consent on June 15. Associate Circuit Judge Greg Warren bound the case over to circuit court for a July 8 arraignment. Paul A. Cary, 32, of Fort Leonard Wood, appeared with the public defender for a June 24 preliminary hearing on two Class A felony charges of first-degree robbery accusing him of forcibly stealing $600 and $135 in U.S. currency from two different businesses, the Holiday Inn Express and Discount Smoke Shop of St. Robert, on June 4 and June 7, while threatening the use of what appeared to be a deadly weapon. Prosecutors presented evidence; the defendant presented no evidence. Judge Warren found probable cause to believe the defendant may be guilty of a felony, bound the case over to circuit court for a July 8 arraignment, and continued his bond at $75,000 cash-only on each charge. Click here to comment for local opinion