Hartsburg man pleads guilty, sentenced to 10 years in Columbia burglary case where more than $12,000 in vape items were stolen
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Hartsburg man who was accused in a 2023 Columbia burglary where a babysitter was assaulted and more than $12,000 in vape devices were stolen pleaded guilty on Friday.
Justin Hudson, 28, pleaded guilty on Friday to first-degree burglary, stealing a gun and stealing more than $750. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He is currently listed on the Boone County Jail roster. He was also given credit for time served.
Another man accused in the burglary, Tanner McKee, pleaded guilty on May 13 to first-degree burglary and stealing a gun. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison but was recommended for a 120-day program, and the Department of Corrections will provide a report and recommendation if probation should be granted after that period.
According to previous reporting, Hudson allegedly forced his way into a Columbia home after a babysitter answered the door to the home. Hudson allegedly kept pushing her and prevented her from leaving the living room, court documents say.
McKee then allegedly came in behind Hudson and the two went into the basement of the home, previous reporting states.
A witness in the area allegedly heard the babysitter yell because of the robbery, documents state. The witness said she saw two men running around the east side of the house, and then was able to take photos of them while they got into a car, the probable cause statement says. A resident of the home had told law enforcement that a gun was stolen, according to previous reporting.
Law enforcement looked at security footage and allegedly saw the two men take a tote from the house, and they allegedly dropped 130 THC vape devices worth around $7,800, court documents say. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle near Tom Bass Road and East Meyer Industrial Boulevard, where police allegedly found 204 THC vape devices valued at $12,240, according to the probable cause statement.
Hudson allegedly told police that they threw the gun near Bear Creek Nature Area off of North Garth Avenue, court documents say in previous reporting. A K-9 found the gun in that location, court documents say.
