A Prague man has drawn a 25-year prison term.
Formal charges, nine felonies and a misdemeanor,werefiledinLincolnCounty District Court on Feb. 21 against Michael James Benham, 27.
In the one case, also a felony, a $5,000 bench warrant also was issued for his arrest.
Special Judge Emily Mueller has ordered that his $250,000 bond remain as previously set.
He waived his preliminary hearing on April 10. His arraignment was held on Apr. 22, 2025.
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 Benham, appearing before Judge Bridge, pleaded guilty to the counts. She ordered a pre-sentence investigation.
During sentencing recently, Judge Bridge noted that the defendant had previously been found guilty of counts 2-3 and 5-10 and sentenced him on all those counts to 40 years in the Department of Corrections with all time suspended except the first 25 years.
He was ordered to pay $5,200 in restitution as per restitution agreement and the sentence to run concurrent with two other cases. Benham received credit for time served from Feb. 26, 2025, he was placed on supervised probation with DOC. He was told to report to the probation office and Court Clerk’s Office within 180 days of released.
On a count of second degree burglary, Judge Bridge sentenced him him to 40 years in DOC with all but the first 25 years suspended, court costs with the sentence to run concurrent with two other cases. He was placed on supervised probation with DOC and ordered to report to the probation office and Court Clerk’s Office within 10 days of release.
An earlier case, filed 17 days prior, charges Benham with second degree burglary.
In the case involving multiple charges, Benham was accused in count 1 of second degree burglary by breaking into Davenport’s Archery in Prague owned by Jeffrey Davenport on Jan. 19 in which property of value was contained by breaking the door with intent to steal.
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 feloniesandamisdemeanor of possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance.
In count 2, he is accused on the same day in Pottawatomie Countyoftaking and driving away a GMC Yukon from Tori Parish withoutherconsentwiththe 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,RugerP899mm,Colt 38 Special, Ruger Blackhawk 41 magnum. Smith and Wesson 17K 22 LR, KimberLW191,Smithand Wesson 38 special, Taurus 9mm, Ruger Blackhawk 41 magnum, Alexander Arms AR 15, Ruger AR556, 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.
He is accused in count 6 of possessing more than 20 grams of Methamphetamine.