Vance Gossett apeared in Andrew County court Monday on murder, robbery and armed criminal action charges for the death of a Savannah man last month.

The 41-year-old St Joseph man is charged in connection with the death of Kenneth Wilson Jr, who was found in his driveway April 4th.

Authorities say Wilson died from blunt force trauma after the apparent robbery of  a cell phone and an ATM card.

Gossett is applying for a public defender.  He remains in jail without bond.

Gossett was on probation from a burglary conviction in 2010 at the time of the homicide.  He pleaded guilty to a break-in at the Truman Middle School in St Joseph that netted him ten dollars.

Andrew County Prosecuting Attorney Steven Stevenson asked to the court to rule Gossett a prior offender. Stevenson says such a ruling takes sentencing out of the hands of the jury, and into the hands of the judge hearing the case, if Gossett is convicted.

Gossett is due back in court for a status hearing May 22.