Taney County Prosecuting Attorney, Jeffrey M. Merrell, announced today that MICHAEL SHARPE, DOB: 4/29/1964, of Branson, Missouri, pled guilty Monday in front of Taney County Circuit Judge Mark Orr, to the class A felony of domestic assault in the first degree and the felony of armed criminal action. MICHAEL SHARPE was set to begin a jury trial Monday morning.

On January 6, 2010, the Taney County Sheriff’s Department responded to 298 Irene Lane and located a white male, identified as MICHAEL SHARPE, who had been shot in the foot. Deputies also responded to 321 Irene Lane where the shooting took place. There, they found a white male, identified as Wendell Clare, who had multiple stab wounds and was covered in blood.

The investigation revealed that shortly after 6:00 p.m., MICHAEL SHARPE, the defendant, and his wife Billie Jean Sharpe, arrived at 321 Irene Lane, which was the home of the defendant’s mother and her husband, Wendell Clare. The defendant and Billie Sharpe were very intoxicated when they arrived at the house. Wendell Clare told the defendant and Billie to leave the home and they refused to leave. Concerned about the situation, Wendell Clare picked up a pair of scissors to move them from the kitchen counter and place them away from the defendant and at that time the defendant pulled out a knife and started towards Wendell. The victim backed up and went into the living room and the defendant started stabbing him in the left arm. A struggle ensued and the victim was able to get away and go into his bedroom and get a gun. He came out of the bedroom with a gun and Billie Sharp struck his arm and caused him to fire a shot into the ceiling. The victim was struck again and another shot was fired towards the floor and the defendant was shot in the foot. After the second shot, the victim no longer had the gun and the defendant continued to stab him. Michael and Billie Sharpe then left the residence and went to 298 Irene Lane where other family members lived nearby.

The defendant was charged as a prior and persistent offender in that he has been convicted of committing at least two (2) or more felonies committed at different times. He will be sentenced in the Circuit Court of Taney County, Missouri by Judge Mark Orr on January 20, 2011.