Man accused of killing Cape tattoo artist convicted on federal drug, firearms charges

After four hours of deliberations, a federal jury Wednesday convicted Melvin Scherrer of drug trafficking and firearms violations.

Scherrer, 50, of Bonne Terre, Missouri, is accused of first-degree murder and four other felonies in connection with the death of Samuel "Tick" Francis, 38, a Cape Girardeau tattoo artist whose body was found July 25, 2013, in a septic tank north of Bonne Terre.

The discovery of Francis' remains came a day after federal agents searched Scherrer's property in connection with the drug case.

The state's murder case against Scherrer -- filed in St. Francois County, Missouri, Circuit Court -- has been on hold while the drug case made its way through federal court in St. Louis.

Scherrer was convicted Wednesday of two counts of illegal firearm possession and one count each of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, federal court records show.

Samuel Francis

Sentencing is set for March 3.

The jury began deliberations in the drug case at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday and returned its unanimous verdict at 4:45 p.m., according to minutes from the trial.

St. Francois County Prosecuting Attorney Jerrod Mahurin said Tuesday that Scherrer could be in court to answer the murder charges in a matter of weeks.

Mahurin has been waiting for federal authorities to approve a writ of habeas corpus that would allow Scherrer to appear in St. Francois County Circuit Court.

Francis was last seen Dec. 17, 2012, at a residence outside Desloge, Missouri.

Two days before his disappearance, Francis told his father that Scherrer "wanted to meet him, Samuel Francis. Gary Francis said his son was scared and told him if he ended up dead, Scherrer was responsible," Sgt. P. Smith of the Missouri State Highway Patrol wrote in a probable-cause statement filed Aug. 1, 2013, in St. Francois County.

Witnesses and electronic information placed Francis at Scherrer's home on Dec. 18, 2012, the last day Francis' wife reported communicating with him; and a Jan. 29, 2013, search of Scherrer's residence turned up blood evidence containing Francis' DNA, Smith wrote.

"During the investigation, witnesses identified Melvin Scherrer as being responsible for the death of Samuel Francis. They further advised Scherrer had struck Francis with a baseball bat, taped his hands behind his back, and wrapped his head with tape," Smith wrote. "It was reported Scherrer removed Francis from his residence while he was still alive."

A five-count complaint against Scherrer charges him with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, felonious restraint, abandonment of a corpse and tampering with evidence in the case.

Scherrer's co-defendant in both cases, Brent Bouren of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in March to a pair of federal drug charges.

Bouren faces five felony charges, including one count of second-degree murder, in St. Francois County Circuit Court.

A trial setting in his case is scheduled for Jan. 16.

A third man, Otto Plopper of French Village, Missouri, faces a single charge of felony abandonment of a corpse in connection with Francis' death. His case is set for a preliminary hearing Jan. 13.

epriddy@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

Bonne Terre, MO