MICHAEL D. GLIDEWELL, d/o/b 5-04-1960, of Branson, pleaded guilty to two (2) felonies on Thursday, October 5, 2017, before Taney County Judge Eric Eighmy. Glidewell entered pleas of guilty to the class B felony of involuntary manslaughter in the first degree, and the class C felony of driving while intoxicated as an aggravated offender. The class B felony carries a maximum sentence of fifteen (15) years in prison, and the class C felony carries a maximum sentence of seven (7) years in prison. As Glidewell has no agreement with the Taney County Prosecutor’s Office about what sentence he will receive, he faces a maximum punishment of up to twenty-two (22) years. Judge Eighmy scheduled Glidewell’s sentencing for January 23, 2018, at 9:00 a.m., in Taney County.

On the morning of November 30, 2016, Glidewell was driving a cement truck for a commercial business in the area of Mount Branson, when his truck overturned and fell onto a passenger car. The driver of the passenger car was killed. Glidewell was found by Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers to be running the cement mixer at an unsafe speed for conditions, driving at an excessive speed, as well as operating the truck while his blood alcohol level was 0.092%.

The D.W.I. offense occurred on November 25, 2016, on Missouri Highway 125, at Fall Creek Drive. A trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol stopped Glidewell for having expired registration on his automobile. Once the traffic stop was initiated, it was clear that Glidewell was intoxicated. Eventually, a breath sample provided by Glidewell showed his blood alcohol level to be 0.158%. The D.W.I. was charged as a class C felony because Glidewell had at least three (3) prior alcohol-related driving convictions.

Glidewell’s cases had been transferred to Stone County in anticipation of trial, due to a change of venue motion filed by the defense. Both cases were scheduled to go to trial, in Stone County, in January of 2018.