Bliss sentenced to four years for home break-in, theft of guns, other items
Editor’s note: The following terminology may help readers understand Law Day listings: A suspended imposition of sentence (SIS) means that a defendant has not had a prison sentence imposed at sentencing. Instead, the immediate punishment is supervised probation. If he or she successfully completes probation without any violations, the charge will not be included on a future criminal record. However, if the defendant violates probation, the judge can change the SIS to a suspended execution of sentence (SES). In that case, the sentence execution is also suspended and the defendant isn’t forced to go to prison, but the charge will remain on his or her criminal record from that point forward. If the defendant continues to violate his or her probation after a SES is issued, the judge can revoke the probation and send the defendant to prison for the designated back up sentence.
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Note: Although defendants are sentenced by the judge to specific terms within the Missouri Department of Corrections, offenders are only required to serve as little as 15 percent of their sentence before being eligible for release on parole. Therefore residents may see suspects out of prison and back in the community before the full prison sentence is completed.
Circuit Judge Craig Carter processed a total of 10 civil cases and 13 criminal cases during the Sept. 8 session of Ozark County Law Day. Updates on the criminal cases are listed here.
Pleas and sentencing
James Bliss pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary, stealing ($750 or more) and three counts of stealing a firearm. He was sentenced to four years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Gregory R. McGee pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated causing serious physical injury. He was given a suspended execution of sentence and placed on supervised probation for a term of five years.
Mental exam ordered
Calvin L. Grisham, charged with discharging or shooting at a person/inhabitable structure and armed criminal action, appeared for a hearing. Grisham’s attorney, Lauren Kate Welborn, filed a motion for a mental examination. The case was suspended pending the exam. A case review is scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 3.
Ordered to complete probation conditions or to ‘bring a toothbrush’
David M. Bushong, who pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance in February 2019, appeared for a probation-conditions review hearing. Carter told Bushong that he should complete all the terms needed to complete his probation before the next scheduled hearing, set for 9 a.m. Nov. 3, “or bring a toothbrush,” meaning he’d be sent to prison.
He was originally given an SIS and placed on probation for four years. His probation was extended an additional year during an April 7, 2021, hearing.
Bushong has had six bond/probation violations in the case: one each in January and December 2019, October 2020, two in March 2021 and one in August 2021.
Probation extended a year
Eric Holdren, who pleaded guilty to burglary and stealing ($750 or more) in January 2019, appeared for a probation-conditions review hearing while in custody. His probation was extended for an additional year. He was released from custody and continued on probation.
He was originally given an SIS and placed on supervised probation for five years.
Holdren has had three violations so far in the case: in January 2020 and in April and May 2021.
Probationer made payment
Robert Stewart Morris, who pleaded guilty to first-degree assault in June 2020, appeared for a probation-violation hearing. The court record says Carter noted that Morris had paid $1,000 toward the case the day before. A probation-conditions review hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Dec. 8.
Morris was originally given an SES with a seven-year backup sentence and was placed on supervised probation.
Three bond/probation violations have been filed in his case: two in January 2020 and one in July 2021.
Scheduled or continued to the future
Timothy J. Frye, charged with unlawful use of a weapon - exhibiting, was scheduled to appear for a plea hearing or trial setting. It was continued, and a plea hearing was set for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 22.
Kaylee Isaac, charged with second-degree burglary, appeared in custody for a plea hearing or trial setting. The judge said she could be released with supervision by Court Probationary Services if she also had a GPS monitor. The hearing was continued to 1:30 p.m. Sept. 22.
Timothy K. Sprague, charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, delivery of a controlled substance and domestic assault, appeared for a plea hearing or trial setting. It was continued to 9 a.m. Oct. 6.
Katherine Brotherton, charged with possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia in two separate cases, was arraigned. A plea hearing or trial setting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 6.
Melvin Campbell, charged with a misdemeanor stealing charge in one case and burglary, three counts of stealing a firearm and one count of unlawful possession of a firearm in another case, was arraigned. A plea hearing or trial setting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Oct. 6.
Colt York, charged with burglary in one case and stealing and property damage in another case, failed to appear for his plea hearings or trial settings. A show-cause was issued, meaning York is ordered to appear next time to explain the cause for his absence. He’s scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. Oct. 6.
Angelia C. Marsh, charged with non-support of a child with total arrears in excess of 12 monthly payments due under a child support order, appeared for a plea hearing or trial setting. Another plea hearing or trial setting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 3.
Julia A. Lesh, charged with possession of a controlled substance, appeared for a plea hearing or trial setting. It was continued to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 23.