RANDALL W. LYDA, d/o/b 5-05-1969, of Branson, was sentenced on Monday, February 2, 2015, to ten (10) years in prison for the felonies of domestic assault in the second degree and burglary in the first degree. Senior Circuit Court Judge Carr Woods had accepted Lyda’s guilty plea on December 11, 2014, and sentencing arguments were heard by Judge Woods on Monday. Lyda’s sentences are to run concurrently with one another, pursuant to a plea agreement with the Taney County Prosecutor’s Office.

On June 13, 2014, Lyda assaulted his girlfriend while they were staying at the Hall of Fame Hotel on Highway 76, in Branson. Branson Police responded to a 9-1-1 call after Lyda’s girlfriend escaped to a neighboring hotel room, occupied by two (2) people not acquainted with Lyda or the victim. Because the victim had visible injuries and was obviously fleeing for safety, the neighbors locked their door and called for help. Lyda kicked-in the door to the neighboring hotel room and pulled the victim from the room, at which time a hotel employee saw Lyda drag the victim back toward his room, striking her with his fist. Branson Police arrested Lyda – who was intoxicated – and the victim was treated for her injuries. Lyda had remained in jail since June of 2014.

Domestic assault in the second degree is a class C felony, carrying a maximum sentence of up to seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and/or a $5,000.00 fine. However, because the Taney County Prosecutor’s Office had charged Lyda as a prior and persistent felony offender, the maximum punishment was enhanced to up to fifteen (15) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Burglary in the first degree is a class B felony, which carries a range of punishment of from five (5) to fifteen (15) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.