Jackson man pleads guilty to 17 burglary charges

Four defendants entered guilty pleas to a total of 20 burglary charges on Tuesday. But 17 of them belonged to Aaron Denson.

Denson, 21, is the second of three charged with participating in burglaries that for months hounded homeowners and law enforcement. Denson appeared before Judge Benjamin Lewis, who asked the Department of Probation and Parole to prepare a report before the Jan. 14 sentencing. Lewis could sentence Denson to prison for up to 78 years.

The other two defendants weren't in court Tuesday. Denson followed in the footsteps of Jacob Colyott, 19, who entered a guilty plea last month to two burglary counts. Colyott is set to be sentenced Nov. 26 and faces up to 11 years in prison.

The third defendant, William Artadi, is scheduled to be in circuit court next week to face 20 burglary charges.

Other burglary case

In an unrelated case, three Cape Girardeau defendants pleaded guilty to single counts of second-degree burglary. Ombreis Watson, Melvine Stuckey, both 18, and Aaliyah Curry, 17, formally told Lewis that they were the reason police were dispatched to the 1900 block of Briarwood Drive on Sept. 28 after a report of suspicious activity was made to police. When officers arrived, witnesses gave a description of three who had fled the scene. Officers canvassed the area and located the suspects who matched the description.

Watson and Curry are to be sentenced Sept. 12 and Stuckey on Dec. 10.

Pertinent address:

Briarwood Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO