Mark T. Davis, d/o/b 12-25-1972, of Branson, pled guilty on Wednesday, May 21, 2014, in two (2) felony cases, in the Circuit Court of Taney County. Judge Mark Orr sentenced Davis to ten (10) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on each of the two (2) cases, with those sentences to run concurrently with one another and his existing sentences.
The guilty pleas were done by video conference call from the Missouri Department of Corrections, where Davis is currently housed for other felony convictions. “The pleas we are able to do by video conference saves Taney County taxpayers money that would otherwise be spent transporting defendants to court here in Forsyth,” says Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell. “My hope is that we will see more of these in the future, and will be able to move away from the expense and risk of driving defendants to court.”
In November of 2012, Davis was observed leaving the scene of an automobile break-in at a parking lot at Branson Landing. The victim’s car window was broken, some items were stolen from the car, and Davis was identified by an independent eye witness. He was charged with the class C felony of tampering in the first degree for that offense. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Davis was sentenced to ten (10) years in prison.
On New Year’s Day of 2013, a Branson Police Officer was conducting a traffic stop on a 2002 Cadillac driven by Davis. During a consent search of Davis and his car, the officer discovered a plastic baggie containing a white, powdery substance that field-tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. The substance was later confirmed to be meth at the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Lab, and Davis was charged with the class C felony of possession of a controlled substance. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Davis was sentenced to ten (10) years in prison for that offense.
Normally, a class C felony carries a maximum term of imprisonment of seven (7) years. In these cases, however, Davis was charged as a prior and persistent felony offender – having at least two (2) prior unrelated felony convictions. The enhancement, filed by the Taney County Prosecutor’s Office, increased the possible maximum sentence on Davis’ charges to a term of imprisonment not to exceed fifteen (15) years.