Bond reduction denied in tattoo artist murder case

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- A St. Francois County circuit judge rejected murder suspect Brent Bouren's request for bond reduction Tuesday and set the case for a preliminary hearing next month.

Bouren, 42, of St. Louis, faces charges of second-degree murder, armed criminal action, witness tampering, second-degree assault and felonious restraint in connection with the death of Cape Girardeau tattoo artist Samuel Francis.

Bouren, appearing in court via a video link, waived arraignment Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Judge Wendy Wexler Horn denied a defense motion to reduce his bond -- set at $250,000 -- and scheduled the case for a preliminary hearing Nov. 19.

Outside the courtroom, Francis' friend Bernie Pelot said anyone responsible for the artist's death has no place in society.

"It takes an animal to do something like that," Pelot said.

Joe Davis, another friend, agreed.

"They need to get the same treatment," he said.

Bouren was one of three men charged in connection with Francis' death after authorities found his body July 25 in a septic tank near Bonne Terre, Mo. He had been missing since December.

St. Francois County prosecutors charged Melvin Scherrer, 49, of Bonne Terre with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, felonious restraint, abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence in connection with the case.

Another man, 43-year-old Otto Plopper of French Village, Mo., has been charged with felony abandonment of a corpse.

The day before Francis' body was discovered, federal agents searched Scherrer's property and arrested him as part of a drug trafficking investigation that eventually yielded charges against 25 suspects, including Bouren.

Federal prosecutors charged Bouren with distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession of firearms by a felon and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Federal court records show on Sept. 11, Bouren waived his right to a hearing on the government's motion for detention, meaning he will be held without bond on the federal charges until they are resolved.

In light of the federal case, it is not clear how much a bond reduction in the murder case would have helped Bouren, who was remanded to federal custody after his arraignment hearing Tuesday.

Bouren's attorney, Gary Lauber, was not immediately available for comment Tuesday.

Pelot called Francis "one hell of a swell guy."

"He wouldn't hurt nobody," Pelot said. "He'd give you the shirt off his back."

Pelot and Davis described Francis as a talented artist with a great sense of humor.

"He liked to have fun. He liked to laugh. He liked to joke a lot," Pelot said.

Davis, who said Francis was like a big brother to him, is trying to use his own past experience to help his friend's family.

Davis said he was just 6 years old when his stepfather murdered his mother in 1991 in Thebes, Ill.

"I know where they're at. I've been through the same situation," he said. " ... I know that it ain't right. I know there's some sick people out there. There's some cruel, sick people out there that needs the same treatment. Whatever they did, they need it done, too."

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Bonne Terre, MO

Farmington, MO