DEXTER — A 120-year prison sentence imposed on a man in relation to a string of burglaries and arson fires was upheld after a lengthy legal battle Wednesday.
Edward Lusk was originally sentenced to 120 years in prison in August 2017 after being convicted in relation to a string of incidents in Dexter in the summer of 2016.
“Our office worked very hard to obtain and defend this 120-year sentence,” said Russ Oliver, Stoddard County prosecuting attorney. “We are certainly very pleased that this sentence has been upheld so that Mr. Lusk will never be a free man again. This sentence is very appropriate given the fact that the defendant inflicted systematic fear and terror on the city of Dexter for an extended period of time. He ransacked business after business, set buildings on fire, destroyed the life’s work of business owner, defecated and urinated in the play area of a church daycare and did all these things simply for the sake of terrorizing a community and creating mayhem.
“Prior to this burglary spree, Mr. Lusk had 11 felony convictions. We agree with the judge, Mr. Lusk should never be a free man again and because of this decision he never will.”
Lusk was charged with 25 felony counts on Aug. 26, 2016, in relation to a spree of business burglaries that involved extensive property damage. After a change of venue to Cape Girardeau County, Lusk was sentenced on Aug. 18, 2017, to 120 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Soon after his conviction, Lusk filed a post-conviction motion to vacate the judgment and sentence. After a three-year legal battle, the sentence was upheld Wednesday, and all state appeals are now fully exhausted for Lusk, Oliver said.