Confessed burglar set to decide whether to withdraw plea

When admitted burglar William Artadi faces a Cape Girardeau County judge today, he basically will be answering the following questions: Does the 20-year-old Jackson man want his fate decided by a judge who is on the record for favoring at least 10 years in prison?

Or would Artadi, one of three men charged with the crimes, prefer to roll the dice with a jury that could put him away even longer?

Those who may have a clue as to what Artadi will do weren't talking Sunday. Declining to comment was assistant prosecutor Jack Koester, defense lawyer Jennifer Booth and Artadi's former lawyer, Steve Wilson.

Messages left with Artadi's parents also went unreturned.

Still, Artadi's case could reach a crescendo today at a sentencing hearing scheduled before Judge William Syler. The proceeding is the third such hearing in which Artadi could have been sentenced since he pleaded guilty to 13 charges in a plea deal with prosecutors who called for the dismissal of another seven.

The case was waylaid in January when Syler rejected the deal that gave Syler three sentencing options: a five-year prison sentence, 120 days shock incarceration to be followed by probation, or a full year in the county jail. Syler said he did not feel any deal was appropriate that didn't allow him the flexibility to sentence Artadi, who has no previous criminal record, to prison for at least 10 years.

The news came as a shock to some, including Artadi and his family, in light of the fact that Artadi's two co-defendants -- Jacob Colyott and Aaron M. Denson -- were each given periods of probation by another judge for their participation in a monthlong spree. Colyott, reached at his home, said he would not comment on his co-defendant's plight or any aspect of the case, until after Artadi was sentenced.

"I hope the best for him," Colyott said. "But I'm not going to say anything until it's over."

Denson, who received five years probation despite the fact he had several more charges filed against him, could not be reached for comment.

If Artadi withdraws his guilty plea, prosecutors can reinstate the other charges to bring his total back to 20 counts, which restarts the legal process. If he does not, Artadi is allowing Syler to sentence him. Judges don't comment, but some lawyers off the record speculated that Syler still may want to sentence Artadi to probation, but would like to see a longer backup period. That way, if Artadi violates, he will go to prison for a longer time.

Artadi has been incarcerated at the Cape Girardeau County Jail since Aug. 1 and is on his third lawyer. He released Wilson for unexplained reasons and then Bob Stillwell was unexpectedly taken off the case shortly thereafter. Artadi then hired Booth, a former public defender who recently opened her private practice in Jackson.

At a previous sentencing hearing, Syler told Artadi he anxiously awaited his decision. The wait may be over.

smoyers@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

100 Court St., Jackson, Mo.