SWINDLER LIKELY TO GET OUT OF PRISON EARLY

A Cape Girardeau man who allegedly swindled a 90-year-old philanthropist out of more than $500,000 will probably serve less than his three-year sentence, a Missouri Department of Corrections spokesman said.

Bradley McIntyre had his first appearance before the state's board of probation and parole Thursday after pleading guilty to stealing by deceit last July.

Although McIntyre admitted to deceiving B.W. Harrison of Cape Girardeau into writing checks totaling approximately $60,000, Harrison has maintained he gave McIntyre $531,000.

McIntyre was sentenced to three years in prison in September.

The probation and parole board should issue a decision on McIntyre's release date within six to eight weeks, said Tim Kniest, corrections department spokesman.

The seven-member board will choose among three options, he said. It will either set a parole date, deny parole but issue a conditional release date, or deny parole and order him to serve his entire sentence.

It is unlikely that McIntyre would serve a full three years, Kniest said.

"An inmate is mandated to be released by statute two-thirds of the way into his sentence unless his behavior is bad," Kniest said. "So far he hasn't been bad."

Many factors are weighed by the board in deciding parole dates, he said. The board looks at prior criminal records, any history of drug abuse, the types of criminal convictions a person has had and other personal details.

Harrison was represented at the hearing in the South Central Correctional Center at Licking, Mo., by a nephew, Steven Norris.

"I just told them if they let him loose, he could make a play on someone else," Norris said.

When deciding a parole date, the board also considers whether restitution has been made to a victim, Kniest said.

Harrison, who said he has not recovered any of the money he gave to McIntyre, is leaving the decision of filing a civil lawsuit to his attorney, John Bradshaw.

Bradshaw could not be reached for comment Friday.

Cape Girardeau attorney Scott Reynolds said he still represents McIntyre but was not at the hearing on Thursday.