Cape robber who was hog-tied pleads guilty

A suspected robber who was hog-tied by his victim pleaded guilty Wednesday morning before Cape Girardeau County Associate Circuit Judge Gary A. Kamp to one count of theft under $500.

John P. Rutherford, 23, of Cape Girardeau, who admitted to stealing two cell phone chargers from a vehicle April 16, received a sentence of 60 days in jail.

The victim of the theft, Rueben Quesada, caught Rutherford inside his wife's vehicle as he was leaving a Cape Girardeau restaurant. According to police reports, Quesada said he knew there had been a rash of break-ins and burglaries in the area and didn't want Rutherford to get away with the crime.

When Rutherford took off on foot, Quesada jumped in his truck and gave chase, pursuing him until Rutherford tired.

Quesada then got out, tackled the other man, hog-tied him and put him in the bed of his truck.

He was unable to find his cell phone to call the police, so he returned to the restaurant and called them. When police questioned Rutherford, he admitted to breaking into several other cars in the Town Plaza parking lot but couldn't recall which ones.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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