Navy recruiter charged with rape pleads guilty to evidence-tampering

A naval recruiter pleaded guilty Tuesday to felony charges of tampering with physical evidence.

Robbie J. Millsaps, 35, was arrested in September on charges of statutory rape after he allegedly had sex with a high school student. Millsaps met the student in a counselor's office during a recruiting visit.

The tampering charges were added in October and carry a sentence of up to four years. The case was transferred to New Madrid after Millsaps requested a change of venue in November.

He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 26 for the guilty plea. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Angel Woodruff said the second-degree statutory rape charge is still pending. The rape charge carries a sentence of up to seven years.

According to a probable-cause statement by Cape Girardeau County Detective Jamie Malugen, Millsaps gave the student a business card with his cell phone number on it after she took a test at his office. The student later called his cell phone and they continued texting each other.

Millsaps allegedly arranged a meeting with the 16-year-old student, bought alcohol for her and her friend and had sex with her at his residence.

Investigators retrieved text messages from his cell phone asking the student "to keep what happened on the low" and that he "had a lot at stake," according to the signed statement.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

100 Court St., Cape Girardeau, MO