With the guilty plea of Mark P. Lowery in a Stoddard County courtroom this morning, local police closed the books on a string of burglaries that plagued both Cape Girardeau and Jackson since last fall.
Lowery previously confessed to police that he'd committed more than 100 burglaries over the course of the past three years, said Cpl. Adam Glueck, spokesman for the Cape Girardeau Police Department.
Officially, Lowery was only charged with offenses related to two burglaries, one committed in each city.
According to Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle, Lowery's plea Thursday morning came unexpectedly at a hearing in the case.
Lowery waived his right to a pre-setencing investigation in court Thursday and received a 40-year sentence, Swingle said.
As a prior and persistent offender, Lowery was eligible to receive up to 70 years for the two burglaries.
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