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A former St. Louis treasury employee could spend 20 years in prison for stealing nearly a quarter-million dollars from a failed charter school and collecting $175,000 in salary for a phantom job.

Tuesday, a federal jury convicted 71 year old Fred Robinson of all charges, including wire fraud and federal program theft.

Robinson's crimes were discovered during a federal investigation of former city treasurer Larry Williams' office. Williams hasn't been charged with any crimes.

Robinson will be sentenced in July.

His attorneys say he will appeal.

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) - The St. Louis Cardinals put third baseman David Freese on the 15-day disabled list yesterday because of a lower back strain, and hoped he would heal in time for the home opener April 8 against Cincinnati.

Freese joined St. Louis closer Jason Motte on the DL. The Cardinals earlier this spring lost shortstop Rafael Furcal for the year with an elbow injury and pitcher Chris Carpenter with a potential career-ending nerve injury.

Utilityman Matt Carpenter is expected to start the season at third in place of Freese, the 2011 World Series and NL championship series MVP. Freese, who will be 30 next month, hit .293 with career best of 20 homers, 79 RBIs and 144 games last season.

Carpenter played at five positions last year and added second base this spring. He batted .294 with six homers and 46 RBIs in 296 at-bats last year. Carpenter, 27, has 26 career starts in two seasons at third.

Infielder Ryan Jackson was recalled from Triple-A Memphis. Left-hander Sam Freeman was optioned to Triple-A.

In 12 spring training games, Freese was batting .267 with two home runs and five RBIs. The move was retroactive to Saturday

Jackson was optioned to the minors on March 17 after appearing in 17 spring training games. Freeman made two exhibition appearances.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri Senate has given first-round approval to a proposed constitutional amendment bolstering certain gun rights after a Democratic state senator blocked a vote for several hours.

Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, of University City, stood Tuesday and read news reports about gun violence in her urban district. She says the Legislature should focus on legislation curbing violence in urban areas.

The amendment would declare gun rights "unalienable" and compel elected officials in Missouri to defend against any infringement on the right to bear arms. It would also allow people to use firearms in defense of their families.

The sponsor, Republican Sen. Kurt Schaefer, of Columbia, says his amendment responds to proposed gun restrictions in the federal government.

It needs one more vote before moving to the House, and would later need approval by Missouri voters.