Robber Sentenced to Prison

On Tuesday, April 9, 2002, Butler County Circuit Judge Robert C. Cope sentenced Eric C. Thomas, 34, of Cape Girardeau, to 7 years in prison for a robbery he committed on May 19, 2001. The case was handled in Butler County on a change of venue from Cape Girardeau County.

Thomas admitted stealing a watch and a cellular telephone from a sixteen-year-old boy in the 200 block of Bellevue Street on May 19, 2001.

Thomas had confessed to Detectives Jimmy Smith and Mark Majoros shortly after his arrest in May of 2001 that he and Delores Wright had committed five robberies in Cape Girardeau during the month of May, 2001, employing the same modus operandi in each robbery. Delores Wright, who was not wearing a mask, would approach a person and ask for directions. Seconds later Thomas would appear, wearing a mask and flourishing a gun, and would demand money.

Thomas was only charged with one of the robberies based upon promises made to him by the police and the prosecution at the time of his arrest. At the time, the crimes were unsolved and he was told that if he would confess, he would only be charged with one robbery and would receive a 7-year sentence.

After his arrest, he pled not guilty and filed a motion for his confession to be suppressed. Judge Cope heard testimony on the motion in Butler County on January 29, 2002, and denied the motion shortly thereafter.

On Tuesday, April 9, 2002, Thomas appeared again in front of Judge Cope and pled guilty. Thomas waived a presentence investigation and was sentenced that same day to 7 years in prison.

The co-Defendant, Delores Wright, is set for jury trial in Butler County on May 30 and 31, 2002. She faces three counts of robbery in the first degree, all of which were allegedly committed with Thomas.