Bouren gets two years for role in Cape man's death

A St. Louis man has been sentenced to two years in prison for his role in the death of Cape Girardeau tattoo artist Samuel "Tick" Francis.

Brent Bouren, 44, had been charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, witness tampering, second-degree assault and felonious restraint in connection with the death of Francis, 38, whose body was found July 25, 2013, in a septic tank in rural Bonne Terre, Missouri.

But Friday, St. Francois County, Missouri, prosecutors dropped the more serious charges, and Bouren pleaded guilty to one count each of second-degree assault and felonious restraint, online court records show.

Judge Wendy Wexler Horn sentenced Bouren to two years in prison on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently, online court records show.

The St. Francois County sentences also will run concurrently with a two-year federal sentence he received Jan. 12 for a pair of federal drug charges, including one count accusing him of conspiring with Melvin Scherrer and several other people to distribute methamphetamine.

Scherrer, 50, of Bonne Terre, was charged in August 2013 with one count each of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, felonious restraint, abandonment of a corpse and evidence tampering in connection with Francis' death.

Francis' remains were found a day after federal agents searched Scherrer's property in connection with the drug case. Francis had been missing since Dec. 17, 2012.

The St. Francois County murder case against Scherrer has been delayed while the drug trafficking case makes its way through federal court.

A federal jury in December convicted Scherrer of two counts of illegal firearm possession and one count each of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, federal court records show.

Sentencing is set for March 3.

It was not clear why St. Francois County prosecutors dropped the murder, armed criminal action and witness tampering charges against Bouren.

Federal court records show on Jan. 12, federal District Judge Catherine Perry signed a statement of reasons for Bouren's sentence in the drug case, but the document was sealed.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Bonne Terre, MO