LANCASTER, MO. -- One of six suspects accused of stealing a number of vehicles and setting them on fire last summer learned his sentence Friday afternoon in a Lancaster courtroom.
Eugene Chuites, 21, of Schuyler County was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Chuites will not have to serve that sentence if he successfully completes 120 days of shock incarceration in the Missouri Department of Corrections and does not break any of the terms of his probation.
As part of a plea agreement, Chuites must also pay $16,630 in restitution to the various crime victims.
"He did make an apology, an open apology, in court to the one victim who was here, and that victim had a victim impact statement. He has been polite, and he has cooperated with law enforcement in telling us what had happened that evening," said Brenda Swedburg, Schuyler County Prosecutor.
As part of his plea deal, Chuites pleaded guilty to numerous counts of felony stealing and first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle.
The crimes were committed last July and August.
"I certainly hope that at his young age that this will give him a 'shock' as shock detention is supposed to, and that he will come out and make his restitution and make these victims whole and turn his life around," said Swedburg.
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