Sikeston, Mo., man pleads guilty to rape of 80-year-old Cape Girardeau woman

A Sikeston, Mo., man has pleaded guilty to the rape of an 80-year-old Cape Girardeau woman.

Mitchell T. West, 17, appeared Tuesday before Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge William Syler in a Jackson courtroom.

In answer to Judge Syler's questions, West said he forced his way into the woman's home Nov. 30, tore her clothes off, raped her, attempted to sodomize her and stole two of her credit cards.

He admitted he broke into the home again two weeks later, on Dec. 14, though the victim was not present. Police chased West after a neighbor heard glass breaking and called 911. He was arrested that night.

West attended Tuesday's case review with his attorney, public defender Ted Liszewski.

Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle told the court that West's victim, though elderly and physically frail, is "very mentally alert and articulate."

He said she required surgery after the attack. He said DNA tests had linked West to the crime. Swingle said he would ask the court to impose 30 years in prison for the rape and attempted sodomy, the maximum time in the plea agreement. The sentences would run concurrently, as would sentence for burglary and stealing charges, but West would be required to serve 85 percent of the time for the rape and attempted sodomy. Swingle said he'd discussed the agreement with the woman and one of her sons, who had approved.

Debi Oliver, domestic violence investigator for the Cape Girardeau Police Department, attended Tuesday's case review.

"Our concern is for the victim," she said afterward. "We are hoping for 30 years."

She said the victim continues to recover and has the support of her family, church, friends and the community. The victim may be helped by the services of the Cape Girardeau-based Network Against Sexual Violence and the crime victim's compensation fund, which may help pay some of her hospital bills, Oliver said.

West is scheduled to return to Syler's courtroom for sentencing April 6.

Liszewski told Syler he planned on bringing "two or three" people to the April 6 hearing in a bid for a less severe sentence.

Liszewski did not respond to the Southeast Missourian's requests for comment.

pmcnichol@semissourian.com

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