Document text
57 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, August 3, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 31, 2004 Swift Lottery suspect pleads A Central Point man accused of stealing his friend’s lottery winnings was sentenced to probation and fines. James Lee Dwight Swift, 28, of the 4200 block of Tioga Way pleaded no contest Friday in Jackson County Circuit Court to a misdemeanor charge of menacing. Police said Swift threatened his victim June 2 with the man’s own pocket knife, demanding he hand over money won playing video poker. Prosecutors agreed to drop a charge of first-degree robbery — which carries a minimum prison sentence of seven years and six months — because they would have had a difficult time proving the crime, Swift’s defense attorney Lindsay Fowler said. In fact, police could not locate the victim to testify, said Tim Barnack, deputy district attorney for Jackson County. Swift was arrested when officers stumbled upon an unusual scene near Crater Lake Highway and Cardinal Avenue, Medford police Lt. Mike Moran said. Advertisement The victim was attempting to threaten Swift with nunchucks as Swift tried to hide in the back of a friend’s car, Moran said. The victim told police that Swift asked to borrow his pocket knife and then pressed it to his neck. He told the victim to hand over $400 won earlier that day at the Time Out Sports Bar in Medford, where the two had been hanging out with another friend. Swift ran away with the money, but the victim caught up with him, police said. Swift disagreed with the police version, saying he told the victim to "get out of his face or there would be a fight." He also pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of methamphetamine. Police said Swift had two plastic bags of the stimulant when arrested. Circuit Court Judge Lorenzo Mejia ordered Swift to serve a year and six months on probation and pay $700 in fines. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times