CANDIDATE HOPES FELONY CONVICTION CAN BE FORGOTTEN

Stan Wicks expected that at some point in his campaign to become the next state representative from Cape Girardeau, his record of a decade-old felony conviction and subsequent prison term would come to light.

While not proud of his criminal record, Wicks, one of four candidates hoping to succeed retiring Rep. Mary Kasten in the Missouri Statehouse, is candid in speaking about it.

"Actually, it was the best thing that ever happened to me," Wicks said.

Going to prison, he said, gave him the final wake-up call he needed to turn his life around and not repeat past mistakes. Now the one-time felon owns four businesses with his wife and serves on a number of community boards, including one that works with criminal offenders.

Despite the past felony conviction, Missouri law wouldn't prevent Wicks, a Republican, from taking office should he be elected. Wicks faces two challengers in the August GOP primary. The winner will face the lone Democratic entrant in November for the 158th District seat.

In April 1990, Wicks pleaded guilty in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court to driving while intoxicated. Because it was his third DWI conviction in less than three years, he had been charged with a class D felony as a persistent offender.

A judge sentenced Wicks, now 38, to four years in prison but placed him on probation. Later that year the judge found Wicks had violated probation and sent him to the Western Missouri Correctional Center near Cameron, Mo.

What happened, Wicks said, was he had to drive as part of his job as a maintenance man for rental properties. However, his probation terms barred him from driving for any reason.

"I couldn't have a job if I didn't drive but couldn't drive while on probation," Wicks said.

While on the job one day Wicks had the bad luck of pulling up at a stoplight next to his probation officer, who informed the judge. Wicks said he served two years in prison before being paroled.

"I got out of prison and decided things would be different this time around," he said.

Prison, Wicks said, changed his life for the better. He quit drinking -- and remains sober -- and began putting his life back together.

"I wished they would have locked me up on the first" DWI, Wicks said. "I wish they'd do that to drunks today."

Because of his experiences, Wicks believes first-time DWI offenders should serve some jail time. At present, first timers usually are fined or receive probation. Wicks feels a little shock time would reduce the number of repeat drunken drivers. As a state representative, he said he would push for tougher enforcement of anti-drunken driving laws.

Though he hasn't had any other alcohol-related legal problems, Wicks did plead guilty in September 1993 to misdemeanor assault. He was placed on probation.

Since being released from prison, Wicks, along with his wife, Debbie, have slowly built four businesses in Cape Girardeau. The first and primary company is General Maintenance, which does a variety of construction and repair work. The couple also owns Helpers Moving and Delivery; Wicks Properties, which specializes in renting houses; and a U-Haul franchise.

Wicks serves on the Cape Girardeau Civic Center Board of Directors and on the city's Board of Examiners, which oversees licensing for skilled trades.

He was also appointed by Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp to serve on the Board of Restorative Justice, which is run by the Board of Probation and Parole. The board includes crime victims, former offenders and others from all walks of life. The panel works with those convicted of misdemeanor crimes, reviews offenses and surrounding circumstances and makes recommendations to Kamp on the final disposition of cases.

Under state law, those already holding public office who are convicted of felonies forfeit that office. However, someone with a past felony record is not barred from seeking office or serving if elected, so long as their sentence is complete and they are not on probation.

"There is nothing to prevent him from serving as state representative," said Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle, who researched the relevant statutes.

Swingle said Wicks is the first convicted felon he is aware of to appear on a ballot in the county.

Wicks said he isn't certain what impact his past will have on his election chances. However, he knows it won't hurt fund raising. Wicks is neither soliciting nor accepting donations. He is financing his campaign entirely out of his own pocket and expects to spend several thousand dollars on the effort.

Still, Wicks hopes voters will consider the good he has done and not focus on the bad.

"The bottom line for me is, look at me where I am today. Don't judge me solely by my past; look at what I've achieved."