Arkansas man accused in Cape house party stabbing changes plea

The man who pleaded guilty last month to assaulting four people at a Cape Girardeau house party in May changed his plea to not guilty during his sentencing hearing Monday.

Brandin Rowe, 20, of Jonesboro, Ark., pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree assault and armed criminal action. Police allege Rowe stabbed one of the victims and injured the others.

Rowe originally pleaded guilty Sept. 19 and received two amended second-degree assault charges as part of a plea deal. Upon Rowe withdrawing his guilty plea, the state reverted its charges to the original four counts of first-degree assault, Cape Girardeau County assistant prosecuting attorney John Koester said.

Had Rowe been sentenced to the amended charges, he would have received prison time, Cape Girardeau Circuit Court Judge William Syler said.

"Probation is not acceptable for this offense," he said.

A call to Rowe's attorney was not returned.

Rowe was one of three men arrested in connection to the May 3 house party incident on North Pacific Street where three men received minor injuries and one man was stabbed. Kollin Payne, 22, pleaded guilty to a third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, in Cape Girardeau Circuit Court. He was originally charged with second-degree assault, a felony, and had pleaded not guilty in May. He will be sentenced Nov. 14.

Kemond Hollis of Ullin, Ill., pleaded not guilty to hindering prosecution. His trial is set to begin Nov. 3.

Rowe will be back in court Jan. 17 for a pretrial conference.

psullivan@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

300 N. Pacific St., Cape Girardeau, MO