Second man charged in brutal Cape Girardeau assault pleads guilty

One of two men accused of beating a Cape Girardeau man so badly that blood was splattered on the walls of his home pleaded guilty Tuesday.

Brandon E. Geiger, 20, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault in Cape Girardeau County Circuit Court and will be sentenced Nov. 14. Geiger originally pleaded not guilty in July.

According to a probable-cause statement, Geiger and Brandon Moss entered the victim's home in the 1800 block of Bloomfield Street on March 20 to assault the man for stealing $1,000 from Moss. Once inside, the two struggled with the victim. Geiger admitted to kicking and hitting the victim, according to the statement.

The victim tried to escape by diving through a window, but Geiger grabbed his feet. When Moss and Geiger were in control of the victim outside the house, they dragged him back inside and continued to assault him, according to police reports. After Geiger struck the victim, he moved to the front door to stand as a lookout while Moss continued to assault the victim. The beating lasted 30 minutes, Geiger said, according to the probable-cause statement.

Before Geiger left the residence, he entered the room where the assault occurred and saw the victim on the floor making "snoring or gurgling" noises, according to the statement.

Moss, 33, pleaded guilty to the assault in August and was sentenced to 20 years in prison last month.

psullivan@semissourian.com

388-3635

Pertinent address:

1800 Bloomfield St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.