Bascom to see trial after 2 1/2 years

Friday, July 3, 2009
By COREY NOLES Statesman Staff Writer

BLOOMFIELD -- A Poplar Buff attorney arrested for selling prescription drugs in Stoddard County in December 2006 now has a trial date.

Richard J. Bascom, 42, will be tried before Judge Stephen Sharp in a Stoddard County courtroom on Jan. 22, 2010.

He was arrested Dec.4, 2006, as part of a round-up in Stoddard County of those selling prescription drugs and also faces other drug-related charges.

Bascom was charged with two counts of the Class B felony of distribution of a controlled substance (Oxycodone) and the Class A misdemeanor of possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the probable cause affidavit on file, Bascom distributed 23 Oxycodone pills to a confidential informant near Dudley on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006.

When the warrant for Bascom's arrest was issued, Poplar Bluff Police Chief Danny Whiteley said he was contacted by Missouri State Highway Patrol Cpl. Chris Graves.

At that that time, Poplar Bluff Assistant Chief Gary Pride went to verify that Bascom's vehicles were at his law office while Graves was en-route to Poplar Bluff. A short time later, Pride notified Whiteley that Bascom and a female got into a vehicle and left the law office.

Whiteley said that he, Task Force Officer Scott Johnston and Graves, who was also a task force member at the time, found the vehicle eastbound on Pine Street and Broadway in Poplar Bluff. The officers conducted a traffic stop and Bascom pulled over and was arrested without incident.

Bascom was booked at the Poplar Bluff city jail and was later transferred to the Stoddard County Justice Center on a $50,000 cash only bond. He posted bond and was released.

At the time of his arrest, Bascom claimed he was innocent of all charges against him.

Comments

Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please Login or Create an account first, and then you will be able to flag a comment as objectionable. Please also note that those who post comments on dailystatesman.com may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.

Bascom will be cleared because of his profession, not because of his innocence. Can you say loophole??

-- Posted by robbincrosby on Fri, Jul 3, 2009, at 2:14 PM

Amen Simple Man!!!!

-- Posted by sweet on Sat, Jul 4, 2009, at 10:49 AM

You're right simple man. There is no illegal drug activity going on in this county. Only innocent men sitting in jail because of the corrupt cops and prosecutors. Give me a break.

-- Posted by robbincrosby on Sat, Jul 4, 2009, at 4:51 PM

Don't go round n round with Simple Man. This local legal analyst has all the facts and angles on all cases.

-- Posted by shannonhoon on Sun, Jul 5, 2009, at 4:39 PM