FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On February 23, 2017, in the Circuit Court of Lewis County, Ernest R. Branham, 57, of Maywood, Missouri was sentenced to ten years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on the charge of domestic assault in the first degree, a class B felony.

At the plea hearing, Branham admitted that there was sufficient evidence for him to be convicted of the charge at a trial, which had previously been scheduled to begin that day. Branham was charged by Lewis County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Corey Moon, following his arrest in March of 2016.

Judge Rick Roberts suspended Branham’s ten year sentence, he was ordered to serve shock time in the Lewis County jail and complete treatment programs while on probation. If his sentence is executed, Branham would be required to serve a minimum of eight and a half years in prison under Missouri law before becoming eligible for parole.

The case was investigated by the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, who was assisted by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.