Bismarck man gets 11 years for weapons charges

Judge sentences Cumberland to prison

By TERESA RESSEL
Daily Journal Staff Writer

FARMINGTON — A Bismarck man was sentenced to 11 years in prison for weapons-related charges.

On Wednesday, Circuit Court Judge Kenneth W. Pratte sentenced Gene Allen Cumberland, 28, of Bismarck, to 11 years in prison after the man entered Alford pleas to unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a weapon. By entering the Alford pleas, he did not admit to any element of the charges, but recognized there was sufficient evidence for trial, which was scheduled in February.

Several other charges, including kidnapping, endangering the welfare of a child and armed criminal action, were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. The sentence will run concurrent to the sentence he is currently serving.

According to court records, a woman called Bismarck police March 29 and told them she was being held in a house against her will by Cumberland and he had a weapon.

Police forced their way into the home and talked to the woman. The woman said the two got into an altercation and Cumberland threatened her and a child with a black powder pistol. Police searched the home and found the pistol, as well as an illegal shotgun and explosives.

Cumberland had been sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2003 for two counts of receiving stolen property. In 2002, he was sentenced to five years in prison for violating the probation he received for stealing and unlawful use of a weapon.

In other cases, Kenneth L. Williams, 33, of Park Hills, was sentenced to eight years in prison for first-degree burglary, endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful use of a weapon.

According to court records, witnesses said Williams broke into a home, waved a baseball bat, and demanded to know where the mother of his children was. He grabbed a juvenile by the neck and threatened several people.

Police later found the man at a house and arrested him. In his vehicle, they found a knife, which he wasn’t suppose to have because he was on probation. Police say the man appeared to be intoxicated.

Glen Janssen, 26, of Park Hills, was sentenced to seven years in prison for second-degree statutory rape and second-degree burglary.

According to court records, Janssen broke into a home and raped a person who was less than 17 years old.

Jeffery C. Asher, 39, of Desloge, was sentenced to seven years in prison for second-degree assault. The judge will consider releasing Asher on five years of supervised probation after he completes a 120-day drug treatment program.

Valerie Swyers, 22, of Farmington, was placed on five years of supervised probation for possession of marijuana.

Charles W. Williams, 22, an ERDCC inmate, was sentenced to four years in prison for endangering a Department of Corrections employee by causing the person to come into contact with urine.

Michael Tisius, an inmate, was sentenced to five years in prison after entering an Alford plea to a Washington County charge of possession of a weapon on a correctional facility.

Robert Morgan, 42, of Bonne Terre, pleaded guilty to manufacture of meth. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Teresa Ressel is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 179 or at tressel@dailyjournalonline.com.

 

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