Suspect in rape pleads guilty to lesser charge

A 32-year-old carnival worker charged in September with the statutory rape of a 15-year-old Cape Girardeau girl pleaded guilty to a lesser charge Monday, two weeks before his scheduled jury trial.

Judge John Heisserer of Cape Girardeau Circuit Court Division I ordered a pre-sentencing investigation for Terry Dwayne Wake. Since Heisserer is leaving the bench Jan. 2, another judge must rule on the plea bargain. "It is up to the sentencing judge whether or not to accept a plea bargain," Heisserer said.

Public defender Amy Lynne Metzinger told Heisserer that Wake of Springfield, Ill., would change his plea to guilty if the charge were reduced to endangering the welfare of a child. Metzinger recommended suspended sentence and five years supervised probation with the condition that Wake have no contact with the girl.

Heisserer also denied Wake's request for a reduced bond. Wake remains in jail in lieu of a $75,000 bond. His next court date is Feb. 14.

Assistant prosecuting attorney Angel Woodruff told Heisserer in court that assistant prosecutor Gordon Glaus intended to go ahead with the trial set for Jan. 11 and had scheduled depositions to be taken this week. But when the defense offered the plea agreement, she said, Glaus opted to take it. She added that the girl's family is agreeable to the reduced charge and the plea agreement.

Wake told Heisserer what he reportedly told investigators at the time of his arrest: That the girl had told him she was 18. When arrested, he admitted having had sex with her twice in his lodging at the fair.

The child endangerment charge relates to Wake's allegedly having unprotected sex with the girl.