Cape man gets year in jail for robbery of club T-Zone

A man charged with stealing from a Cape Girardeau teen nightclub was sentenced to one year in jail Monday by Circuit Court Judge William Syler.

Jajuan Bell, 20, of Cape Girardeau, pleaded guilty to the charge Feb. 1, which at that time was amended from second-degree armed robbery to one count of felony stealing.

Upon his release from the Cape Girardeau County Jail, Bell will be placed on five years of probation.

In October, Bell and allegedly several other teenagers attacked a club T-Zone staff member and stole money from a container filled with cash collected from cover charges. The employee suffered serious injuries, including a laceration to the head.

Bell's attorney, Mary Patricia Tucka, asked Syler to sentence Bell to probation only, since he has not pleaded guilty or been found guilty of a felony in the past.

"He's asking for a chance to keep this felony off his record," said Tucka. "This is a young man who needs a goal and needs a path."

Tucka added that Bell has a 3-month-old son he needs to take responsibility for. Bell has been in jail on the robbery charge for nearly five months, since the October burglary.

Cape Giraradeau County assistant prosecutor Jack Koester recommended Bell serve five years because of the violent nature of the crime.

"I don't feel he's a suitable candidate for probation," Koester said.

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