Cape man gets 20 years in child abuse case

Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge John Heisserer sentenced a Cape Girardeau man to a total of 20 years in prison Monday. Adam R. Brethold, 23, received a 15-year sentence for statutory sodomy of a 5-year-old girl. He was found guilty of the sex charge by a jury on Oct. 22. The abuse occurred in April. Heisserer specifically ordered the 15-year sentence run consecutively to a 5-year sentence Brethold received for violating probation from a previous burglary case. He had already been on probation for burglary and stealing for an incident in August 2002, when he burglarized the Seven Cedars Store in Millersville, and stole cigarettes and liquor.

The prosecution was handled by assistant prosecuting attorney Julie Hunter. The defendant was represented by assistant public defender Bryan Keller.