A Prague man pleaded innocent during his arraignment on a total of 10 felonies and one misdemeanor in two cases filed within 17 days of one another has withdrawn his previous pleas has pleaded guilty all those charges.
Formal charges, nine felonies and a misdemeanor, were filed in Lincoln County District Court on Feb. 21, 2025 against Michael James Benham, 27.
Appearing before District Judge Sarah Bridge for his arraignment, he pleaded innocent. She set his cause for the felony disposition docket at 9 a.m. on May 6.
On that date Bennett, appearing before Judge Bridge he pleaded guilty to the counts. She has ordered a presentence investigation ad scheduled his sentencing for 1:30 p.m. July 1, 2025.
Those charges include trafficking in illegal drugs, possession of a firearm after former felony conviction, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a second degree burglary count, two counts of endangering others while attempting to elude police officer, larceny of automobile, aircraft or other motor vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, pattern of criminal offenses, all felonies and a misdemeanor of possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance.
An earlier case, filed 17 days prior, charges Benham with second degree burglary.
In the case involving multiple charges, Benham is accused in count 1 of second degree burglary by breaking into Davenport’s Archery in Prague owned by Jeffrey Davenport on Jan. 19, 2025 in which property of value was contained by breaking the door with intent to steal.
In count 2, he is accused on the same day in Pottawatomie County of taking and driving away a GMC Yukon from Tori Parish without her consent with the intent to steal the vehicle.
Count 3, endangering others while eluding/attempting to elude a policer accuses Benham on Jan. 19, 2025 in Lincoln County of eluding Chandler Police Officer Seth Schaefer by driving 100 miles per hour and driving through two stops signs without stopping and endangering others which were using those same streets at South Post Road.
In count 4, Benham is charged with possession of a firearm after former felony conviction on the same day by having in his possession in Lincoln County in a vehicle he was operating a Kimber Micro 9mm, Ruger P89 9mm, Colt 38 Special, Ruger Blackhawk 41 magnum. Smith and Wesson 17K 22 LR, Kimber LW 191, Smith and Wesson 38 special, Taurus 9mm, Ruger Blackhawk 41 magnum, Alexander Arms AR 15, Ruger AR-556, Remington 742, and/or a Diamondback DB 15, after he had been convicted in Lincoln County District Court on May 7, 2024 of grand larceny.
Count 5 accuses him of possessing on the same day the GMC Yukon stolen from Tori Parish.
Count 7 charges Benham on Jan. 20, 2025 of attempting to elude Pottawatomie County Deputy Sheriff Ronald Johnson by increasing the speed of the pickup he was driving in disregard of Johnson’s red lights and sirens which endangered another person.
In count 8, he is accused of assault and battery on Jan. 20, 2025 by ramming Deputy Johnson’s vehicle with the pickup truck he was driving, a dangerous weapon.
Count 9 is a misdemeanor accusing him of possessing on Jan, 19, 2025 a quantity of Methamphetamine.
And count 10, a felony, charges him with a pattern of criminal offenses between Jan. 19 and Jan. 20, 2025.