Dec 03, 2021

St. Joseph man sentenced to 75 years for US Oil Gas rape

Posted Dec 03, 2021 5:45 PM
Jerez Collins/Photo courtesy of the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office
Jerez Collins/Photo courtesy of the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office

By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post

A 29-year-old St. Joseph man who pleaded guilty to rape in June of 2020 in the back-storage room of the US Oil Gas Station has been sentenced to 75 years in prison.

Citizens forcibly detained Jerez Collins on the June 13th day at the station located at 22nd Street and Messanie until police could arrive. Collins was convicted of both forcible rape and forcible sodomy.

District Judge Daniel Kellogg sentenced Collins to 75 years on both counts after the presentation of the victim impact statement and an argument from counsel.

Buchanan County Prosecutor Ron Holliday described the crime during the sentencing hearing as one of the most horrific he has prosecuted in his 25-year career, which includes prosecutions of murders, shootings, stabbings, and armed robberies. Cameras at the business caught and recorded the entire crime.

Under state law, Collins will have to serve 85% of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Holliday pointed out Collins had served three years in federal prison after being convicted of robbing the Bank Midwest in the Village of Country Club in November of 2010. Collins also had been convicted of crimes in Arizona.