Sep. 12--Just four days from his scheduled jury trial, Walter Ross, 50, opted to plead guilty Friday in Buchanan County Circuit Court for his role in a 2007 robbery.

According to court documents, the Kansas City man walked into the Burger King at 715 E. Highland Ave., and showed a .38 caliber revolver on the afternoon of Nov. 7, 2007. He then took money from the cash register.

He was charged with four felonies, but only pleaded guilty to three -- first-degree robbery, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon.

Judge Dan Kellogg sentenced Mr. Ross to 15, three and four years for those charges, respectively, to be served concurrently.

Mr. Kellogg also gave a St. Joseph man consecutive sentences of seven and five years for involuntary vehicular manslaughter and tampering with a motor vehicle.

According to court documents, Gregory Pfleiderer, 31, was intoxicated and driving a stolen truck north on Missouri Highway 31 near Easton, Mo., on the morning of Nov. 22, 2008.

When the vehicle went off the east side of the road, he overcorrected and crossed back over the center line and traveled off the west side of the road. The Chevrolet struck an embankment, utility pole, three trees and overturned onto the driver's side. The vehicle was totaled.

Ashley Smith, 24, was ejected from the front passenger side window, and Heartland paramedics pronounced the St. Joseph woman dead at the scene at about 8:20 a.m.

Neither Mr. Pfleiderer nor Ms. Smith were wearing their seat belts.

R.J. Cooper can be reached at rjcooper@npgco.com.

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