Earl Casper Mintner Jr., 53, formerly of De Soto, was sentenced to 15 years in prison following a felony charge for tampering with a motor vehicle and a probation violation, according to court records. Mintner is a persistent offender having pleaded guilty to two or more felonies.
On May 29, 2012, Herculaneum Police were called to the Cracker Barrel restaurant, 1193 Scenic Drive where Mintner was spotted driving a 2006 Chevrolet 2500 erratically in the area. The police found the unoccupied pickup in the restaurant’s parking lot and discovered it had been reported stolen from Piedmont, the probable-cause statement said.
Mintner was identified as the driver of the pickup, and he was located inside the restaurant, where he was arrested. When police searched the pickup, they found a medication bottle with various pills that were not prescribed to Mintner, the report said.
Mintner pleaded guilty to first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, a felony, and in July 2014, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, he was released in November 2014 on five years’ probation after completing a treatment program, and the sentence was suspended.
Mintner violated the terms of the probation, though, and on Sept. 19, Jefferson County Div. 5 Circuit Judge Victor J. Melenbrink executed his 15-year prison sentence.
Jefferson County assistant prosecuting attorney Douglas S. Pribble handled the case.
Mintner will serve the 15-year sentence concurrent, or at the same time, with a seven-year sentence he received for felony drug possession stemming from an April 2004 incident in St. Louis County.
Mintner had a previous felony conviction for stealing tied to a January 1997 incident St. Charles County.
He currently is in the Western Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in St. Joseph.