Kingdom City Man Sentenced for Robbing Postal Employee
Lucas Wayne Branstetter, a 39-year-old Kingdom City man, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison without parole for robbing a postal employee. Branstetter was sentenced as a career offender due to his prior felony convictions.
On July 19, 2014, Branstetter entered a postal facility in Kingdom City and presented a note to a postal employee that stated, “This is a robbery.” The postal employee placed $310 from the cash drawer into Branstetter’s backpack, and he drove away from the post office on a motorcycle.
Branstetter was identified by a confidential source on July 21, 2014. On the same day, Branstetter was arrested for possessing stolen property after Laclede County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call regarding a suspicious person sleeping behind a local church. A stolen motorcycle was also parked behind the church. Branstetter had an active arrest warrant for forgery from the Blue Springs Police Department.
Branstetter has been convicted of at least 12 felonies, including four prior felony convictions for burglary and a prior felony conviction for robbery, as well as numerous misdemeanors. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Lynn. It was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Callaway County Sheriff’s Department, and the Laclede County Sheriff’s Department.
U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough sentenced Branstetter to seven years in federal prison. The harsh sentence reflects the severity of the crime and Branstetter’s extensive record of prior convictions.
The case highlights the importance of law enforcement working together to bring criminals to justice. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Callaway County Sheriff’s Department, and the Laclede County Sheriff’s Department all played key roles in investigating and prosecuting the case.
In a statement, U.S. Attorney Tammy Dickinson said, “This sentence sends a strong message that robbing postal employees will not be tolerated. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities and bring perpetrators to justice.”
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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