FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
Sue Boresi, Senior Assistant Prosecuting Attorney
417-582-5198
DATE: MARCH 15, 2021
RE: MICHAEL BASHAM pleads guilty and receives 10 years for charges arising out of A BURGLARY AND ENSUING police pursuit in NOVEMBER, 2019
OZARK, MO – The Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
announces that Michael Basham dob: 04-03-1079, pleaded guilty to four counts in
front of the Honorable Judge Jennifer Growcock on March 10, 2021. Michael Basham pleaded guilty as a prior and
persistent felony offender to Robbery first degree, a class A felony; Burglary
second degree, a class D felony; Possession of a Controlled Substance, a class
D felony and Resisting Arrest, a class E felony.
The range of punishment for a class A felony is a term of imprisonment
in the Missouri Department of Corrections for a term of not less than 10 years
and not to exceed thirty years, or life imprisonment. Robbery in the first
degree is classified as a dangerous felony. Basham will be required to serve
eighty-five percent of the sentence before he can be considered for parole or other
early discharge. The range of punishment for a class D felony is imprisonment for
a term not to exceed seven years imprisonment, or by a fine not to exceed
$10,000, or by both imprisonment and a fine. The range of punishment for a
class E felony is imprisonment for a term of years not to exceed 4 years, or by
a fine not to exceed $10,000, or by both imprisonment and a fine. Because the Defendant
pleaded guilty as a prior and persistent felony offender, he faced an extended
term of imprisonment for the next higher class of felony punishment.
Per the terms of the plea agreement, Basham received a total of 10
years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Basham received 10 years in
the Missouri Department of Corrections on the charges of Robbery first degree
and Burglary second degree, 4 years imprisonment on the charge of Possession of
a Controlled Substance, and 5 years imprisonment on the charge of Resisting Arrest.
All counts are to be served concurrent with each other.
At the time of the plea the State alleged the following facts could be
proved beyond a reasonable doubt at trial:
On November 26, 2019, at
2:00 pm, a woman was arriving at her home at the 1900 block of W. Syler Rd in
Nixa, Missouri. She saw the door to her garage, which is attached to the
residence, was open. The door to the garage was closed and locked when she left
the residence earlier in the day. An unfamiliar red pickup truck was parked in
her driveway at the garage. She saw Basham, who was unknown to her, get into
the driver’s side of the pickup.
The woman tried to block
the truck in her driveway, but the truck drove around her. She began following
the pickup driven by Basham, while calling 911. About two miles from her
residence, Basham stopped the pickup, walked to the woman’s window and pointed
what appeared to be a firearm at her. Basham told her he would shoot her if she
did not stop following him.
Christian County Sheriff
Brad Cole located the red pickup described by the woman. Sheriff Cole activated
lights and sirens on his vehicle in an attempt to stop Basham. Basham failed to
stop. Sheriff Cole initiated a pursuit of the vehicle that was joined by other
officers, and continued into Springfield. Basham fled at excessive speeds while
weaving in and out of traffic. Basham stopped only after the use of a pursuit
intervention tactic. Basham was then taken into custody.
Several items in the
open truck bed were identified by the woman and her husband as having been
taken from their home. On the front seat of the truck driven by Basham, law
enforcement officers seized a black CO2 pistol that resembled a Glock firearm. Basham
admitted to threatening the woman with the gun because she was preventing him
from leaving.
At the Christian County
jail, a baggie of methamphetamine was found inside Basham’s wallet. Subsequent
testing by the Missouri State Highway Patrol crime lab confirmed that the
substance was .798 grams of methamphetamine.
This case was
investigated by the Christian County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution was handled by Senior
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Sue Boresi.
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