On Tuesday, January 23, 2018, MICHAEL D. GLIDEWELL, d/o/b 5-04-1960, of Branson, was sentenced by Judge Eric Eighmy to a total of twenty (20) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections: fifteen (15) years in prison for the class B felony of involuntary manslaughter in the first degree and five (5) years in prison for the class C felony of driving while intoxicated as an aggravated offender. Judge Eighmy ordered the sentences to be served consecutively. Because there was no plea agreement as to what sentence Glidewell would receive, the sentencing arguments of the parties were lengthy, with emotional statements from the victim’s family. Judge Eighmy sentenced Glidewell to the consecutive sentences after hearing arguments from Glidewell’s lawyer and Assistant Taney County Prosecutor Thomas Kondro.

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 – a husband and father – was killed. Glidewell was found by Missouri State Highway Patrol troopers to be running the cement mixer and truck at unsafe speeds for conditions, as well as operating the truck while his blood alcohol level was 0.092%. This offense led to the conviction for manslaughter.

Five days before the manslaughter, on November 25, 2016, Glidewell had been arrested for a separate, aggravated DWI offense that occurred on Missouri Highway 125, near Fall Creek Drive. A trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol stopped Glidewell for having expired registration on his automobile. After the traffic stop was initiated, the trooper determined that Glidewell was intoxicated. Eventually, a breath sample provided by Glidewell showed his blood alcohol level to be 0.158%. The DWI was charged as a class C felony because Glidewell had at least three (3) prior DWIs.

Glidewell’s cases had been transferred to Stone County in anticipation of trial, due to a change of venue motion filed by the defense. The cases were scheduled to go to trial in Stone County, this January, but  Glidewell entered pleas of guilty on October 5, 2017.