Stoddard County man who fled to New Orleans pleads guilty

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Malden, Mo., man who allegedly stole a car from a Dexter, Mo., dealership and fled with his family to New Orleans entered a guilty plea Wednesday and was sentenced to serve five years in prison.

Chris Rauscher, 38, pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary and the theft of a 2010 Hyundai Sonata from a local car dealership. As part of the plea agreement, Rauscher will serve a 5-year prison sentence.

He appeared before Presiding Judge Stephen Sharp Wednesday afternoon and entered the plea.

Before Rauscher's plea additional charges were levied against him in regard to a burglary he was being questioned about at the time he fled in July 2010.

Det. Cory Mills of the Dexter Police Department had questioned Rauscher in July as a suspect in a July 8 break-in at Dexter's Budget Mobile Homes. He fled the area with his wife and young daughter on the day he was to report back to Mills for further questioning regarding the break-in.

The family was discovered in New Orleans in November. Rauscher was extradited after he was found.

Rauscher also has charges in Cape Girardeau County for leaving the scene of an accident and making a false report.

Pertinent address:

Bloomfield, MO

Dexter, MO

Malden, MO