Richards sentencing scheduled for today

The admitted gunman who killed a 17-year-old Cape Girardeau youth was scheduled to be sentenced today.

Bernard P. Richards, 19, of Ullin, Ill., pleaded guilty July 17 to felony involuntary manslaughter and misdemeanor leaving the scene of a shooting. He was accused in the Jan. 25 shooting death of Jacob Bowers behind Du-Shell's Furniture, 2103 William St.

Richards was expected to be sentenced by Circuit Court Judge William Syler at 3:30 p.m. today.

Charges of second-degree murder, armed criminal action and tampering with a witness were dropped when Richards agreed to a plea deal offered by Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle.

At the sentencing, Swingle said he would ask for the maximum sentence of seven years for the felony charge. Richards could receive up to a year in the county jail additionally for the misdemeanor count.

Had he been convicted of second-degree murder, Richards could have faced life imprisonment.

According to Swingle, Bowers was attempting to steal cocaine at gunpoint from a drug dealer who was an acquaintance of Richards. Bowers and the drug dealer struggled, and evidence showed the two-shot derringer pistol Bowers wielded was loaded and misfired.

Richards pulled his gun and fired multiple times, including as Bowers fled from the scene, Swingle said. Bowers was shot in the back. The bullet pierced his heart and killed him.

Swingle admitted that Richards was justified in firing his weapon while his friend and Bowers struggled. The crime occurred when he continued to fire at the victim as he fled the scene, amounting to "excessive force," Swingle said.

In an unrelated case, Richards also pleaded guilty July 17 to felony possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.

Just 20 days before Bowers' slaying, Richards was stopped for a traffic violation Jan. 5. During a search of his vehicle, police found 10 grams of cocaine packaged in baggies. He could receive between five and 15 years' imprisonment for the charge.

He was scheduled to be sentenced for the drug charge at the time of his manslaughter sentence.

kmorrison@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127