Sikeston man gets 30 years for rape of 80-year-old woman in November

A Sikeston, Mo., man was sentenced to state prison for 30 years Monday for the Nov. 30 rape of an 80-year-old Cape Girardeau woman in her home.

Mitchell T. West, 18, was arrested in December after breaking into the woman's home for the second time when she was away. He pleaded guilty to forcible rape, burglary, felony stealing and attempted forcible sodomy.

Circuit Judge William Syler imposed the 30-year sentence for rape, along with concurrent sentences of 30 years for the attempted sodomy, 15 years for the burglary and seven years for stealing.

A DNA profile showed that there was virtually no chance anyone but West committed the rape.

Under Missouri law, West will serve at least 25 1/2 years of his sentence.