Lilbourn man sentenced to prison on carjacking, gun charges

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — A Lilbourn man was sentenced on Wednesday to 147 months in prison on carjacking and gun charges.

Justin D. Perry, 34, of Lilbourn was was sentenced on one felony count of felon in possession of a firearm, one felony count of attempted carjacking and one felony count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, according to the United States Attorney's Office. He appeared before U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr.

At his plea on March 21, Perry admitted that on Dec. 4, 2015, he entered a 2004 Ford pickup truck that was owned by another person, while it was parked outside the owner’s residence and unlocked. Perry found a Ruger, 9mm caliber pistol in the truck, took it inside the residence and approached the owner. Perry pointed the pistol at the owner and demanded the keys to his Ford truck. The victim looked at the pistol and recognized it as his own pistol. The victim spoke to Perry and convinced Perry to allow the victim to drive Perry to Lilbourn. The victim went into his bedroom by himself to get dressed. While there, the victim called police officers and told them of the situation. Perry and the victim got in the truck, with the victim driving Perry toward Lilbourn. A Missouri State Highway Patrol officer had been alerted as to the crime and was looking for the victim’s truck. The officer got behind the victim’s truck and turned on his emergency lights. The victim pulled the truck to the side of the road. Perry attempted to flee on foot, but was soon captured.

Perry has previous convictions for stealing a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance and driving while intoxicated. He had been sentenced to serve a term of state imprisonment of 15 years. The federal sentence was ordered to be served consecutively to the state sentence. This case was investigated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Keith D. Sorrell handled the prosecution for the Government.