Cape man pleads guilty to burglarizing businesses, homes

A Cape Girardeau man pleaded guilty to burglarizing two Cape Girardeau bars and the same number of homes last year after prosecutors amended court filings to classify him as a prior and persistent offender.

Scott W. Pierce, 30, made the courtroom confession Monday to Judge Benjamin Lewis without benefit of a plea bargain -- leaving Lewis full discretion at next month's sentencing. Pierce pleaded guilty to eight charges, including seven felonies prosecutors filed against him in late December in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court.

The prior-offender status increases the range of punishment for the four felony counts of second-degree burglary, three felony counts of theft and one misdemeanor theft charge. The classification increases Pierce's maximum possible punishment from 50 years behind bars to more than 100 years.

Pierce was arrested after authorities said he broke into two businesses and stole about $4,000 from games, registers and safes. He acknowledged to Lewis that he broke into Whiskey River, 1444 Independence St., and Rhymer's on the Plaza, 10 S. Plaza Way.

Betty Hendrickson, who owns Whiskey River, on Tuesday said she had not yet heard of Pierce's plea but the news surprised her. She discovered the damaged video games and cash register.

On Tuesday, she said she'd love to get some of her money back.

"But I don't see that happening," she said, noting her hope is that Pierce doesn't go free. "I don't want him to get out of jail and be back on the streets again."

The day after Pierce was charged with the business burglaries, amended charges connected him to burglaries that had taken place in the county around the same time. At that time police said they were looking at Pierce as a possible suspect in other burglaries that targeted businesses and residences in November and December.

Assistant prosecutor Angel Woodruff declined to comment Tuesday. Jennifer Booth, Pierce's new lawyer, would not comment. Pierce hired Booth to take his case after he fired lawyer Patrick Davis.

Pierce has pleaded guilty nine times since 2000. Offenses range from robbery and burglary to misdemeanor theft.

smoyers@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

100 Court St., Jackson, MO

1444 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, MO

10 S. Plaza Way, Cape Girardeau, MO