A convicted felon faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison after entering a guilty plea Monday in the burglary of Stevenson Pharmacy.

Decked out in an orange jail jump suit, Johnny Jones, 36, stood before Circuit Court Judge Patrick Robb and said he wasn't under the influence of drugs and voluntarily pleaded guilty to the three felony charges connected with breaking and entering the South Side pharmacy on Sept. 1.

Mr. Jones said he cut the wires leading to the pharmacy and broke in the back door to the building. When he saw that a new metal door had been installed leading to the pharmacy, he decided to leave for a couple of hours. He returned, saw a car in the parking lot and re-entered the pharmacy wearing a ski mask and carrying a baseball bat.

"All hell broke loose," Mr. Jones said.

Mr. Jones admitted beating owner David Stevenson with a baseball bat.

The state said Mr. Jones had burglarized the pharmacy on March 30 and June 29, taking thousands of dollars worth of drugs that were controlled substances. In return for the guilty plea to the Sept. 1 burglary and beating, the Buchanan County Prosecutor's Office agreed not to file additional charges.

Mr. Robb questioned the defendant repeatedly about his plea, his guilt, what was promised in return for the plea and the defendant's satisfaction with the public defender appointed to represent him.

Watching the proceedings were St. Joseph Police Department officers Sgt. Eric Protzman and detective Shane Luikart, who solved the case and arrested Mr. Jones. Members of the Stevenson family also were present.

Mr. Robb ordered a pre-sentence investigation report and set sentencing for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 8. The state said it would have one or two witnesses to give testimony before the judge pronounces a sentence. The defendant was returned to the Buchanan County Jail.

Marshall White can be reached at marshall@npgco.com.