In federal court: Cape man pleads guilty to three felony counts of interstate possession of stolen goods

The U.S. attorney's office released the following information Friday for defendants who appeared before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr.

PLEADED GUILTY

Name: Joel Keith Day

Age: 57

Residence: Cape Girardeau

Charge: Three felony counts of interstate possession of stolen goods.

Summary: With the plea, Day admitted that on Dec. 4 he stole a 2011 Ritenouer brand 53-foot aluminum trailer and contents, with a value in excess of $5000, from a lot in Mount Vernon, Ill. About two weeks later, Day moved the trailer and contents to a storage building he had rented at 12236 Highway 25 in Cape Girardeau County. Day then had the trailer cut into pieces and sold as scrap metal. On Feb. 13, 2011, Day stole a 2002 Trimcar Trailer with a value in excess of $5,000 from a lot in Anna, Ill. On or about Feb. 13, Day moved the trailer and contents to the storage building he had rented and again had the trailer cut into pieces and resold as scrap metal. On Feb. 17. Day stole a 1998 Smith Cattle trailer with a value of in excess of $5,000 from a lot in La Center, Ky. On or about Feb. 20, he moved the trailer and contents to his storage building and once more had the trailer cut into pieces for resale as scrap metal. On Feb. 23, following a fire at the storage building, Cape Girardeau County deputies executed a search warrant resulting in the recovery of various parts of the three stolen trailers. Day now faces a maximum punishment of 10 years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine on each count. Sentencing has been set for Nov.21. The case was investigated by the Cape Girardeau Sheriff's Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.