Cape Girardeau man charged with burglarizing health-care facilities

A man suspected of burglarizing two Cape Girardeau businesses was charged Saturday with two counts of second degree burglary and two counts of stealing.

Michael C. McGowan, 38, 606 Silver Springs Road, Apt. 40, appeared in court Monday before Cape Girardeau County Associate Circuit Judge Gary Kamp and waived a formal reading of the charges he faces.

McGowan is accused of illegally entering Crown Hospice, 2868 Professional Court, on July 2, and Immediate Health Care, 1702 N. Kingshighway, on May 31 and stealing equipment.

According to a probable-cause statement, McGowan confessed to obtaining a key to the front door of Crown Hospice from another man, who told him it would be an easy place to burglarize.

He used the key to get into the building and, along with another man, took numerous laptop computers, digital picture frames, money and an American Express card, according to the sworn statement.

They then divided up the stolen goods, a haul worth more than $11,000, the statement said.

In police interviews, McGowan also admitted to stealing an autoclave pressure cleaner from Immediate Health Care, saying he'd seen the piece of equipment while he was a patient at the health-care facility and deliberately unlocked a window in the building so he could return later.

He also stole another type of high-pressure cleaner used for medical purposes, the statement said. Both pieces of equipment together were valued at more than $2,500.

McGowan also admitted to using the American Express card to purchase gas at a BP station near Crown Hospice, the statement said.

Bond for McGowan was set at $20,000 cash only.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

388-3635