Illinois man sentenced in car, purse theft

JACKSON, Mo. -- An Illinois man who led Cape Girardeau police on a high-speed chase through the city was sentenced Monday to 12 years in prison.

Robert Wiley, 24, of Liberty, Ill., entered an Alford plea last month to two counts of second-degree robbery.

Judge John Grimm sentenced him to 12 years on each count.

An Alford plea allows the defendant to avoid a direct admission of guilt. Wiley said he was probably guilty of the crimes but couldn't remember because he was too strung out on prescription drugs at the time.

Police reported that on Jan. 4 Wiley stole a purse from Shirley Drury in the JCPenney parking lot and fled in his car. Drury copied his license plate number.

Witnesses followed Wiley and called police, who gave chased Wiley until he wrecked his car. Then Wiley yanked Peggy McKee from her car and fled in her vehicle. The chase ended on Sprigg Street when Wiley wrecked McKee's car into a taxi van.