Man who got probation for Kinder car theft back in court on new charges

The Cape Girardeau man who pleaded guilty to helping steal and torch Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder's car will be back in court on separate charges today after he received five years' probation as part of a plea deal last week, according to court records.

Adam D. Cromer, 20, was originally charged with stealing a motor vehicle, first-degree tampering and second-degree attempted burglary after he and Jacob Shepard, 18, stole Kinder's 2009 Ford Flex on April 25 and rammed it into a brick wall at Shooters Gun Shop before torching it north of Cape Girardeau city limits on Highway 177.

Cromer pleaded not guilty to the original charges in May but agreed to plead guilty to the tampering charge if the other two were dropped Oct. 11. In return, the state said it would recommend a suspended sentence, according to court documents.

And that's what Cromer received.

On Nov. 14, Judge Benjamin Lewis suspended the imposition of sentence, and Cromer was given five years' probation. The conditions of his probation include completing a substance abuse treatment program, obtaining full-time employment and paying $500 in restitution. Cromer is also prohibited from having contact with Shepard.

The same day Cromer worked out his deal with the state, he received a summons for resisting arrest and being a visibly intoxicated minor, both misdemeanors. He pleaded not guilty to both charges and will appear in court today before Judge Scott Thomsen.

Cromer's attorney, Stephen Wilson, could not be reached for comment.

Shepard was unable to get such a plea deal with his guilty plea.

He received a seven-year sentence for stealing a motor vehicle and a concurrent four-year sentence for property damage for his role in the incident. Shepard had testified in August that he was under the influence of Ecstasy and alcohol when he stole and rammed Kinder's car into the wall. Shepard said he does not remember driving into the wall.

Shepard was also on probation for burglary and drug charges in Scott County.

His attorney, Scott Reynolds, asked Lewis for a four-year sentence, calling a seven-year sentence "overkill," but Lewis rejected the request.

"The courts don't want to see you throwing your life away," Lewis told Shepard during his sentencing. "But at some point we're not going to be concerned about you; we'll be concerned for public safety."

Kinder's car was a total loss, and the gun shop reported roughly $2,000 in damage.

psullivan@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

Highway 177, Cape Girardeau, MO

101 Court St., Jackson, MO