CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- A Parma, Mo., man was sentenced Friday morning to a combined total of 120 years in prison in connection with break-ins at eight Dexter, Mo., businesses.
Edward D. Lusk, 50, appeared before Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis for sentencing after having pleaded guilty in June to six Class C felonies of second-degree burglary and the Class C felonies of first-degree property damage and second-degree arson, according to news release from Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver.
With his earlier plea, Oliver said, Lusk admitted to burglarizing the Small Wonders Child Development Center at the First Baptist Church and El Cabrito restaurant on Aug. 24, 2016; Faye's Bakery and Dexter Automotive on Aug. 2, 2016; Extreme Skate on July 15, 2016; and Battles Communications on July 10, 2016.
Oliver said Lusk also pleaded guilty to causing property damage to a Ford pickup at Dexter Automotive on Aug. 2, 2016; and setting fire to the Law Offices of John Ringer and Bradley Jarrell on July 12, 2016.
"Judge Lewis sentenced (Lusk) to 15 years on each of the eight counts," Oliver said. "The judge ordered that each sentence would be served consecutive to one another for a combined sentence of 120 years."
Oliver said Lusk faced an increased sentencing range of up to 15 years on each count because he was a persistent felony offender.
"(Lusk) had previously committed and had been convicted of 11 felony offenses beginning in 1987," Oliver said.
Lusk's last offense, Oliver said, was a first-degree robbery, which was committed in Dunklin County in 2001.
"He was sentenced to 15 years on that charge" and had been "paroled for about six months when he committed these new offenses," Oliver said.
Authorities, according to earlier reports, learned of Lusk's involvement in the string of burglaries after he was identified as the man captured on video surveillance breaking into the Small Wonders Child Development Center on West Castor Street.
Food products and money were stolen from the day care, and numerous offices were pilfered through, Dexter Detective Cory Mills wrote in his probable-cause statement.
While inside, Lusk reportedly urinated and defecated in the preschool classrooms, including on the carpet and fixtures.
Oliver's news release further said Lusk caused "significant property damage" at El Cabrito, Faye's Bakery, Extreme Skate and Battles Communications.
Oliver said $700 in cash was stolen from El Cabrito, while food and drink products were stolen from Faye's Bakery, Extreme Skate and Battles Communications.
Both the bakery and Extreme Skate reportedly were damaged by flooding with water (clogging the sink and turning the faucet on).
At Dexter Automotive, Lusk reportedly broke a window out of a 2011 Ford pickup and attempted to steal the truck.
In addition, he "smashed a window, destroyed fixtures, discharged a fire extinguisher and poured automotive fluids throughout the business and attempted to burn the business by lighting the exterior of the building on fire," Oliver's news release said.
Fixtures also were destroyed and a window smashed at Battles Communications, while the law office was destroyed by fire.