Richard Wayne Christian, 29, formerly of Arnold, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison following numerous felony charges, including burglary, receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and property damage, court records show.
On Oct. 21, 2015, Christian was found driving an SUV without license plates on Business 21 north of Hwy. B in the Hillsboro area. He also drifted into the center lane and didn’t signal, so a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper pulled him over and found him with methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, the probable-cause statement said.
A few months later, on Jan. 24, 2016, Christian stole a vehicle parked behind Bar 33 in Festus, and the vehicle contained $1,000 in cash, credit cards, ID and other items, the statement said.
The next day, on Jan. 25, 2016, Christian stole boxes of wheels out of a trailer at Midwest Motorcycle in Pevely, causing $1,245 in damage to the property and stealing $4,117 worth of items, the report said.
On Feb. 8, 2016, Christian unlawfully entered a building in the 5600 block of Old Hwy. 21 in House Springs and stole items, the statement said.
Also on Feb. 8, 2016, he stole items from a vehicle parked in Herculaneum, according to the report.
Three days later, on Feb. 11, 2016, Christian broke into the Festus 8 Cinema and stole a change machine. The machine was valued at about $2,500, and there was about $1,000 inside it, according to the report.
Between Feb. 18, 2016, and Feb. 19, 2016, Christian forced open a shed in the 11000 block of Hwy. C in the Hillsboro area and stole about $3,000 in items, the probable-cause statement said.
On Feb. 22, 2016, Christian broke into the former Hibachi Grill in Festus, causing $700 in damage to the building and stealing vending machines valued at $895, the report said.
Two days later, on Feb. 24, 2016, Christian attempted to break into a Phillips 66 gas station in Herculaneum, according to the report.
The next day, on Feb. 25, 2016, Christian used a sledge hammer to knock a bill changer off a wall at a Pevely business at 28 Gannon Square, causing $3,500 in damage and stealing $850 in money from the machine, according to the report.
On Feb 28, 2016, Christian broke into a gas station in the 5700 block of Old Hwy. 21 in House Springs, broke open a coin-pusher game machine, causing about $100 in damage to it, and stole about $150 from it, the report said.
Several days later, on March 5, 2016, Christian broke into a coin-operated laundry in the Jefferson Square retail development in De Soto and smashed a game machine, causing about $400 in damage to it, and stealing about $3,500 out of it, the probable-cause statement said.
Two days later, on March 7, 2016, Christian broke into a business in the 7000 block of Hwy. 61-67 in Barnhart, broke open a coin-pusher game and caused $150 damage to the machine and stole $3,000 from it, the report said.
Also on that day, he tried to break into the Phillips 66 station in Herculaneum, according to the report.
On March 8, 2016, Christian broke into John’s Butcher Shoppee in Festus and stole a gumball machine, a candy machine and a knife display case filled with about 25 knives. Altogether, the stolen items were valued at $1,263, not counting the gum, candy and money inside the machines, the report said.
Between March 9, 2016, and March 10, 2016, Christian broke into a detached garage in the 6900 block of Hwy. B in Dittmer and stole a snow-cone machine and a candy machine, together valued at about $713, and he also tampered with the ignition on a van inside the garage, the probable-cause statement said.
On March 14, 2016, Christian damaged a dock and broke into a trailer at a Herculaneum business and stole more than $500 in merchandise, the report said.
Two ays later, on March 16, 2016, Christian broke into the Bellacino’s restaurant in Arnold and stole a bill changer valued at about $1,200, according to the
When Christian was arrested on March 18, he was found with methamphetamine, the report said.
In addition, Christian admitted to police that he committed at least some of the burglaries and thefts, and when officers went to his home, they found some of the stolen items there, the report said.
Christian, who most recently lived in St. Louis, pleaded guilty to eight burglary charges, nine receiving stolen property charges, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, three counts of property damage and one count of tampering with a motor vehicle, all felonies, and on Jan. 24, Jefferson County Div. 4 Circuit Judge Mark T. Stoll sentenced him to 20 seven-year prison terms and three four-year terms, court documents indicate. Most of the terms are to be served concurrently, or at the same time. However, two of the seven-year terms and the four-year terms are to be served consecutively, for a total of 18 years. In addition, he may be released early if he successfully completes a 12-month treatment program, according to court papers.
Jefferson County assistant prosecuting attorney Steven Jerrell handled the cases.
Christian currently is in the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre.