Wayne County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Crimes

(Cape Girardeau) A Wayne County man pleaded guilty Friday to two federal charges. 62-year-old Donald Sanders of Williamsville says he’s guilty of one felony of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and one felony of attempting to intimidate or threaten a government witness.

Court records say on January 14th of 2019, Sanders was inside a white Ford pick-up driven by another person.

Officers tried to stop the truck but the driver drove away.

Eventually, the truck crashed and officers arrested Sanders and the driver. Officers found four firearms in the truck and recovered another rifle thrown from the truck during the chase.

Officers later found a handgun in a motel room in Poplar Bluff shared by Sanders and the driver.

It was determined that all the firearms were stolen from residences in Butler County.

On February 9th of last year, while incarcerated in the Butler County Jail, Sanders had a recorded conversation with a visitor.

During the conversation, Sanders learned a female acquaintance was a possible witness against him for the firearm charge.

Sanders expressed a concern he could get charged in federal court. Sanders made a statement to the visitor that the visitor should tell the woman, “the Black River is very cold right now.”

Sanders later admitted his statement was an attempt to persuade the woman not to testify as to the facts in the firearm charge.

Sanders has prior convictions for Escape from Custody out of Wayne County.