Man likely to plead guilty to murder in crash that killed Dexter, Mo., businessman

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A week before his trial, a man accused in connection with the death of a prominent Dexter, Mo., businessman nearly a year ago has decided to plead guilty to the charges against him.

According to Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn, James Edward Jankowski is expected to plead guilty during a court appearance Wednesday before Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen R. Sharp.

Jankowski has been charged with the Class A felony of second-degree murder, Class B felony of first-degree involuntary manslaughter (prior and persistent offender) and the Class C felony of driving while intoxicated (prior and persistent offender).

"What will happen is at that time, the judge will probably order a pre-sentence investigation," said Welborn. "That report will then be compiled before sentencing takes place."

Jankowski had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges and was scheduled to face a jury Feb. 26, in a Stoddard County courtroom.

At approximately 11:28 p.m., March 30, a vehicle being driven by Jankowski crossed the center of the roadway in the 800 block of Walnut Street in Dexter, striking a vehicle being driven by 48-year-old Dexter resident Richard "Rick" Watkins head-on.

Cape Girardeau County Coroner John Clifton pronounced Watkins dead at 3:25 a.m. the next day from injuries sustained in the wreck.

Jankowski was allegedly under the influence of not only alcohol, but marijuana as well. EMS personnel allegedly found marijuana in Jankowski's possession at the time of the accident. Blood and urine from Jankowski were seized while he was at Missouri Southern Healthcare in Dexter.

Preliminary court documents also show that Jankowski's blood-alcohol content was 0.18 percent or higher at the time of the crash. The legal limit is 0.08 percent.

Originally, Jankowski's bond was set at $250,000 cash only. Because of injuries sustained in the wreck, said Stoddard County Sheriff Carl Hefner, Jankowski was released on bond and placed on house arrest. He remains on house arrest at this time. Jankowski appeared in court in a wheelchair earlier this month.

In May, Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Briney Welborn charged Jankowski with the Class A felony of second-degree murder under the felony murder law.

The amended complaint filed with the court said Jankowski "committed the Class A felony of murder in the second degree in that on or about March 30, 2007, Richard Watkins was killed by injuries sustained in an automobile collision occurring in his lane of travel by being struck by a vehicle operated by the defendant at that time and place while defendant was operating his vehicle with criminal negligence in that he was driving in the wrong lane of travel for his vehicle and further while the defendant was under the influence of alcohol, as the result of the perpetration of the Class C felony of driving while intoxicated."

Jankowski's previous felony convictions include:

On or about Dec. 12, 2001, Jankowski pleaded to or was found guilty of the Class C felony of second-degree burglary in Dunklin County Circuit Court.

On or about Dec. 21, 2005, Jankowski pleaded to or was found guilty of the Class C felony of stealing a motor vehicle in Stoddard County Circuit Court.

In 2001, Jankowski pleaded guilty to two different counts of driving while intoxicated in Dunklin County Circuit Court.