Arraignment of suspected vandals awaits naming of judge

The cases against three suspects scheduled to be arraigned in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court Division 1 in connection with the January vandalism of five local churches and a law office were postponed Monday.

Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said that Judge William Syler sent the cases to the Office of the Court Administrator and asked that a special judge be appointed to hear the cases. The state Supreme Court is expected to appoint a special judge within the next week.

Syler said that because a lawyer is one of the victims, it might be a conflict of interest for any of the judges in the 32nd Judicial Circuit to hear the case. Kevin Phillips, the lawyer whose office was allegedly vandalized, has practiced before most of the judges in the circuit, Swingle said.

The three defendants, Daniel Richard Rainey, 19, and Erich C. Montgomery, 20, both of Cape Girardeau and Billy Ray Fowler, 31, of Scott City, remain in the Cape Girardeau County Jail. Rainey and Montgomery have been charged with 17 counts of burglary, property destruction and theft in connection with the break-in of the churches and the law office. Fowler is charged with burglary, property damage and theft in connection with the break-in at Phillips' office only.