Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell announced today that JAMES KEELER, dob: 07-13-1966 of Forsyth, Missouri was sentenced to fifteen (15) years for the class C felony of assault in the second degree and fifteen (15) years for the unclassified felony of armed criminal action Thursday night by Taney County Circuit Judge Mark Orr. Probation was denied, and JAMES KEELER will have to serve his sentence as a prior and persistent felony offender. On August 10, 2009 JAMES KEELER was found guilty by a ten (10) men, two (2) women Taney County Jury.

On November 8, 2009, deputies with the Taney County Sheriff’s Department made contact with the JAMES KEELER on Mount Branson. JAMES KEELER had assaulted someone earlier in the night at a trailer park near Mount Branson. A Trooper for the Missouri State Highway Patrol spotted JAMES KEELER walking across highway 76 and detained him until Taney County deputies arrived. JAMES KEELER attempted to flee while handcuffed but was caught by Taney County deputies and arrested.