Gene Ferguson was previously given an opportunity Greene County prosecutors didn't believe he deserved.
Ferguson, 42, was handed a suspended nine-year prison sentence and probation in February 2023 after pleading guilty to breaking into a woman's north Springfield home and partially pulling down her pants as she slept.
He would go on to commit similar acts of sexual assault at Rountree residences roughly six months later — wearing nothing but a straw hat, reader-style glasses and a lavender thong. The occupants of the homes were reportedly as shocked as they were confused to find Ferguson in their homes.
“It took away their sense of security and violated their dignity,” Greene County assistant prosecutor Chris Lebeck told the court July 12.
Lebeck requested Ferguson get a life sentence for his continued criminal acts.
“His actions have not only jeopardized their safety, but the safety of our community,” Lebeck said.
In a large, mostly empty courtroom, Greene County Circuit Judge Todd Myers gave Ferguson a 25-year prison sentence on charges of first-degree burglary and first-degree sodomy/attempted sodomy for his July 2023 offenses. A concurrent nine-year sentence was tacked on for violating probation.
Myers was stern as he communicated the punishment, which won't allow Ferguson to be eligible for parole until 85% of the sentence has been served.
“You committed a burglary, and a few months later you committed these burglaries, and you're not just going to take something out of a house,” Myers said. “These are very serious crimes, so when I look at that, this case falls heavily on the side of making sure the sentence I impose will protect the victims and the community.”
Myers said that in a recent sentence assessment report, Ferguson was asked how he picked his victims, to which the judge said the reply was, “Because she was there.”
What police say happened at the Rountree homes
Ferguson reportedly entered multiple houses in the Rountree neighborhood in the early morning hours of July 23, 2023.
In one of the homes, a husband and wife were in bed when police said the woman awoke to Ferguson standing in front of her and attempting to put his penis in her mouth. Ferguson was said to have been wearing a straw hat and glasses and was mostly exposed as he was wearing only a thong.
The couple told police that Ferguson said someone paid him to enter the home for sex, and that he had a receipt. That same morning, police were called to the home of a mother and daughter, where Ferguson gained entry and, according to a police report, put his penis up to the mother's face saying “You want this ****, don’t you?”
Police later found Ferguson in a nearby backyard wearing only a Boy Scout shirt.
Ferguson apologizes at sentencing
Multiple victims from Ferguson's burglaries and assaults were present at court Friday, but opted not to give impact statements as part of the sentencing hearing.
Ferguson, who was represented by public defender Jeff Wood, gave a lengthy apology to the court and pointed to drug use for his state of mind during the incidents.
“I can't imagine if I was in their shoes,” Ferguson said as he looked toward the victims sitting in front of the courtroom. “Methamphetamine is a very bad drug, but I put myself in that position. There are no words I can say to justify what happened.”
Ferguson said he was a contributing member of society and on the straight and narrow until experiencing an unspecified loss that sent him into a drug-induced spiral.
“There are some things that happen that apologies don't fix,” Myers said shortly after the apology.
