CAPE GIRARDEAU — An O’Fallon, Mo., man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday morning to multiple felonies in connection with a November armed robbery in Ripley County.
James M. Judd pleaded guilty to the felonies of conspiracy to possess marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and a crime of violence and interference with commerce by robbery, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Hahn.
The plea agreement signed by Judd says in November, Ashley Purdom was living with John C. Lovell in Ripley County.
Purdom reportedly called Illinois resident, Travis W. Davis, and asked him to come to Missouri to get her and take her back to Illinois.
“Purdom informed Davis that Lovell was in possession of several pounds of marijuana and some firearms in Lovell’s gun safe and that Davis could take the marijuana and firearms by robbery,” the plea agreement says. “Davis agreed to the plan.”
Davis, the plea agreement says, asked “his associate,” Judd, to come along with him on the trip to take the marijuana. Judd agreed.
“Judd knew that Davis would be using a short-barrelled shotgun to accost Lovell to take the marijuana and firearms,” the plea agreement says.
The pair reportedly drove to Ripley County in Judd’s vehicle.
“They arrived late on the evening of Nov. 6, 2018,” the plea agreement further says. “Both men left Judd’s vehicle and began walking to the front of the Lovell/Purdom home.
“Davis was openly carrying a Mossberg 12-gauge short-barreled shotgun as he walked to the front door.”
As Davis came near the front door, the plea agreement says, he shot the door three times, damaging the locks so they could gain entry.
“Purdom had seen Davis and Judd arrive for the purpose of taking her to Illinois and to take Lovell’s firearms and marijuana,” the plea agreement says. “(She) had walked to the front door to unlock it and allow Davis and Judd to enter.
“However, when Davis fired the shotgun, numerous pellets from the shotgun struck Purdom,” causing her to fall to the floor.
The plea agreement further says Davis and Judd entered the home and “accosted Lovell with the shotgun.
“They secured Lovell with zip ties and threatened him with the shotgun in order to obtain the code to unlock Lovell’s gun safe.”
Lovell reportedly gave the men the code.
After unlocking the safe, Davis and Judd reportedly took several pounds of marijuana and a Smith & Wesson .22-caliber pistol, Stevens 12-gauge shotgun and H&K .45-caliber pistol.
The marijuana and firearms reportedly were loaded into Judd’s vehicle, as was the injured Purdom.
While en route to Collinsville, the plea agreement says, one of the three removed the battery from Purdom’s cellphone.
Lovell reportedly called authorities, who investigated the incident as a robbery and forcible kidnapping.
The officers reportedly submitted an emergency request to Purdom’s cellphone carrier in an attempt to find her.
On Nov. 7, while at Davis’ home in Collinsville, Purdom reportedly re-installed her cellphone battery to check messages.
“When she activated her cellphone, it alerted her cellphone service provider,” the plea agreement says. The provider was able to get a specific address in Collinsville, and it was provided to law enforcement.
Missouri officers, the plea agreement says, contacted the Illinois State Police and provided them with the information and requested they try to locate Purdom.
Purdom was found inside Davis’ home and taken to a hospital for treatment of her wounds.
Davis’ wife, according to the plea agreement, gave officers permission to search her home. The officers reportedly recovered the three firearms taken from Lovell’s home, as well as the short-barrelled shotgun.
After accepting Judd’s plea, U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr. set Judd’s sentencing for Jan. 7.
At that time, he faces up to five years in prison on the conspiracy charge, up to life in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and 20 years on the robbery charge.
Charges are pending at this time in federal court against Davis, Purdom and Lovell.
Davis faces the same charges as Judd, while Purdom is charged with the felony of possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Lovell is charged with the felonies of felon in possession of firearms, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
No dates are set at this time in their cases.