Two facing felony burglary charges

Saturday, February 11, 2017

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Two Bootheel residents are facing felony charges following an investigation by the Mississippi County Sheriff's Office into several burglaries reported over the past year. According to Mississippi County Sheriff Cory Hutcheson, the latest arrests are the result of the Sheriff's office reopening several previously reported but unsolved burglaries. After compiling statements from several victims, Hutcheson along with chief deputy Branden Caid, and captain Barry Morgan began tracking leads and developed information that Robert 'Red' Boyer and Crystal Sauceda Phillips were involved in many of the burglaries. Upon receiving that information, Morgan sought and obtained warrants for the arrest of Phillips and Boyer, whom at the time was being held on unrelated charges in the Scott County Jail. At that time, Hutcheson coordinated with the Missouri State Highway Patrol to locate and apprehend Phillips; and a subsequent vehicle stop conducted by both agencies led to the discovery of methamphetamine inside her vehicle. At that time, Phillips was placed under arrest and transported to the Mississippi County Detention Center. Following their arrests, both parties participated in videotaped interviews which led to the development of probable cause to believe Phillips and Boyer had participated in more than 30 burglaries across the Bootheel, including approximately a dozen within Mississippi County. Boyer, 30, of East Prairie, Mo., is charged with burglary in the second degree, a class D felony punishable upon conviction by up to seven years in the Department of Corrections, and felony property damage, a class E felony punishable upon conviction by up to four years imprisonment. Phillips, 30, of Sikeston, is charged with possession of a controlled substance and burglary in the second degree, both class D felonies, and felony property damage, a class E felony punishable upon conviction by up to four years imprisonment. As of press time, Boyer and Phillips both remain in custody with their bonds set at $50,000 cash only. Most of these burglaries are still under investigation, according to the sheriff, so more arrests and additional charges are expected in the coming weeks.

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