Congratulations to the first Christian County Employee of the Quarter for 2021—Kristen Tuohy!
Ms. Tuohy received this award for her continued leadership and dedication to her co-workers in the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and the citizens of Christian County. Ms. Tuohy works countless hours to seek and serve justice. Ms. Tuohy has been serving in the Christian County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office since July 2012. She currently serves as a First Assistant Prosecuting Attorney. She prosecutes sex crimes and child abuse. She does an excellent job serving the interests of justice and the victims in the cases she handles, the vast majority of whom are children.
MICHAEL BASHAM PLEADS GUILTY AND RECEIVES 10 YEARS FOR CHARGES ARISING OUT OF A BURGLARY AND ENSUING POLICE PURSUIT IN NOVEMBER, 2019
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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