Missouri man asks judge to send him back to prison

A Missouri man who appeared in court earlier this week on a charge of second-degree attempted robbery had no intention to try and beat the case.

Instead, 43-year-old Roy Murphy wanted to plead guilty to the charge after allegedly robbing a convenience store in November. If the judge had sentenced Murphy to the maximum sentence, seven years in prison, he would have been fine with it because he wanted to go back to jail.

“I went in there to rob the store clerk but she wouldn’t open the drawer,” Murphy told the court. “I said, ‘Could you open the register, please.’”

Before leaving the scene, Murphy told the clerk, “Please call the police.”

Unfortunately, Circuit Judge Patrick Robb was reticent to sentence Murphy because the charge of attempted robbery requires threatening physical force.

“The one thing everybody agrees is he didn’t threaten anybody,” Robb said.

Murphy, who has a lengthy criminal record and has been homeless, spoke up.

“I intended to go to prison,” Murphy said. “I’ve been out for a year. I’ve got nothing and I don’t know how to make it on the outside.”

Assistant Buchanan County Prosecutor Ron Holliday suggested an amended charge of felony attempting to take property appropriated from a victim and Robb accepted the lesser offense. Murphy was sentenced to four more years in prison

“It’s still a dangerous situation and Mr. Murphy’s criminal record is terrible,” Robb said.

[St. Joseph News-Press]