Clinton Glaspy, 33, of Clinton, Missouri, was sentenced to seven (7) years in prison by the Henry County Circuit Court for strangling a law enforcement officer.
The circumstances arose from a report of an individual that was tampering with ATVs at Hobbytime Motorsports in the late hours of September 24, 2021. A deputy with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded and made contact with the individual, who was later identified as the defendant, Clinton Glaspy.
After the deputy made initial contact with the defendant in a nearby field, Glaspy ran on foot. The deputy pursued Glaspy, eventually catching up with him in a cornfield across Missouri Highway 7 from Hobbytime. As the deputy attempted to detain Glaspy, the two fell to the ground, and Glaspy was able to get on top of the deputy. Glaspy then began strangling the deputy. Their positions were such that the deputy could not retrieve his firearm.
During the struggle, the deputy could not breathe, but was eventually able to bite Glaspy’s hand, which allowed him to get free of Glaspy’s grasp. The defendant then took off on foot again. Glaspy was located by the Henry County Sheriff’s Office and Clinton Police Department hiding at a residence in Clinton the following morning.
Trial had been set earlier in 2023, but in February the defendant changed his plea to guilty for assault in the second degree with a special victim (law enforcement) and felony property damage for the damage caused to ten or more ATVs at Hobbytime. The minimum sentence for assault in the second degree when it is a special victim is five years in prison, with a maximum sentence of fifteen years.
A sentencing hearing was held on May 9, 2023. Prosecuting Attorney LaChrisha Gray argued and presented evidence on behalf of the State. The defendant presented evidence and argument through his counsel.
The Court heard from the deputy, who believed he was going to be killed by the defendant while he was being strangled. The Court also heard from Henry County Sheriff Kent Oberkrom, who testified that this event has impacted his office and deputies. Several deputies from his office attended the hearing in support of the deputy involved. Sheriff Oberkrom added that the deputy would have been justified in using his firearm had he been able to retrieve it.
At the hearing, Prosecutor Gray requested that the Court sentence Glaspy to the maximum sentence of fifteen (15) years and the defense requested probation or a small number of years.
After hearing from both sides, Henry County Circuit Judge M. Brandon Baker sentenced Glaspy to seven (7) years in the Missouri Department of Corrections on both counts with the sentences to run concurrently.
Because the sentences are to be served concurrently, the defendant will not serve any more than seven years. His time in prison will count towards both sentences. The law requires the defendant to serve a minimum of eighty-five percent of the seven-year sentence as the assault is considered a dangerous felony, but he will also receive credit for the time he served in the Henry County Jail.
Prosecutor Gray stated, “This deputy’s service and sacrifice to the Henry County community cannot be overstated. Unfortunately, our law enforcement officers face incredibly difficult and at times impossible situations. Our community is fortunate to have officers like this deputy, who even while being held on the ground, continued efforts to deescalate the situation. His actions and quick thinking saved his life and our community a tremendous loss. My office will continue to prosecute cases involving the assault of our law enforcement officers to the full extent allowed by law.”
