Latest news with #Bashore
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Lauria and Ashley's' law to bring change to Oklahoma's legal landscape
OKLAHOMA CITY — A legislative effort to increase incarceration time for felons convicted of accessory to murder was signed into law on Monday. Lauria and Ashley's Law, passed both the Senate 38-5 and the House floor 76-11, and goes into effect Nov. 1. This new law adds accessory to murder in the first or second degree to the list of crimes that would require an offender to serve 85% of their prison sentence before being eligible for parole consideration. Those convicted also would not be eligible to earn any credits that would reduce the sentence to below 85% of what was imposed. The Lauria and Ashley's Law references 16-year-old best friends Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman. 'I've fought for two years to get this legislation passed to keep a promise to the family members of these girls.' Rep. Steve Bashore, R-Miami Several years ago, Bashore met Lauria Bible's family, including her mother, Lorene Bible, and Lorene's cousin, Lisa Brodrick. The Bible family was recognized the House last week, he said. 'These women have been tireless in their search for Lauria's remains and for justice for those involved in her murder,' Bashore said. This law can't bring the girls back or further punish the man accused of being an accessory in their murders, he said. The law can 'at least give these families some peace that other families won't have to suffer as they have when people accused of similar crimes seemingly escape justice,' Bashore said. 'We are thrilled to have this small victory, not for our girls but for future families that may suffer as we have. Lauria and Ashley did not die in vain, and they will live on as girls who changed history and not just victims of a brutal crime.' Lisa Brodrick When people hear the names – Lauria and Ashley – they know they were at the center of one of the state's most horrific crimes. Danny and Kathy Freeman, Ashley's parents, were shot to death, and their mobile home was set on fire on Dec. 30, 1999. Laura and Ashley were kidnapped from Freeman's mobile home and taken to Picher, where authorities believe they tortured, raped, drugged, and killed. It is presumed their bodies were dumped in a Picher mine pit, but their remains have never been recovered. Investigators believe Phil Welch, David Pennington, and Ronnie Buscik were behind the multiple deaths and kidnappings. The only person convicted – Busick – who pleaded guilty in 2020 to a reduced charge of accessory to felony murder, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He served three years. Busick was credited with time served in the Craig County jail and good behavior, which shaved off five years from the 10-year sentence. Phil Welch and David Pennington died before authorities could prosecute 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislator optimistic that Lauria and Ashley's Law will advance through final stages
State Rep. Steve Bashore on Wednesday announced passage of a bill by the Oklahoma Senate that he has been pushing. It now goes back to the House for final consideration. Bashore, R-Miami, has been behind a bill that would add accessory to murder in the first or second degree to the list of crimes that would require an offender to serve 85% of their prison sentence before being eligible for consideration for parole. Those convicted also would not be eligible to earn any type of credits that would reduce that sentence to below 85% of what was imposed. Called Lauria and Ashley's Law, it is named for Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman, of Welch. The 16-year-old girls were presumed kidnapped, tortured, raped and killed on New Year's Eve 1999, and law officers think their bodies may have been dumped in a Picher mine pit. Their remains have never been recovered. Danny and Kathy Freeman, Ashley's parents, were shot to death, and their bodies were found in their mobile home, which had been set on fire. 'I made a promise to the families of these two girls that I would seek better justice on their behalf,' Bashore said in a statement issued Wednesday. 'After working on this legislation nonstop for the past few years, I'm incredibly excited to see it this close to final passage. I'm hopeful the governor will soon be signing it into law.' The bill passed in the Senate 38-5. 'Lauria and Ashley's Law honors the memory of the victims and reinforces Oklahoma's commitment to holding everyone involved in violent crimes accountable,' Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, said in a statement. 'As this bill moves forward, it reflects our dedication to justice and keeping our communities safe.' Earlier this year, the bill passed the House 76-11. Bashore previously said his bill 'would not undo the wrong done in Ronnie Busick's case, but it will at least ensure that future victims will get more justice.' Busick, who pleaded guilty to being an accessory to murder in the 1999 slayings of Bible and Freeman, was released from prison after serving five years of a 10-year sentence. He benefited from a state corrections policy granting 90 days' credit for every 30 days served with good behavior. Bashore previously told the Globe such credit is much too easy to obtain while in lockup for being an accessory to murder. The bill has had the support of the state's District Attorneys Council, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, the state attorney general's office and the Oklahoma Sheriffs' Association. Other suspects in the case, Warren 'Phil' Welch and David Pennington, died without being charged. According to investigators, Busick still claims he was not with Welch and Pennington the night when Freeman's parents were killed and maintains that his knowledge of the crime came secondhand from Pennington and Welch. As a requirement of his plea agreement, Busick provided information that led to several searches for the girls' remains at sites in and around Picher that were unsuccessful. Lorene Bible, mother of Lauria Bible, said the Bible and Freeman families were never told that when the plea deal was reached in July 2020 that Busick would be permitted to serve anything less than 85% of his sentence on a conviction for accessory to murder. On Wednesday, Bashore recognized Lorene Bible, the mother of Lauria Bible, and her cousin, Lisa Broderick, who were present in the House Gallery. He credited both women with the final draft of the legislation and its passage through both chambers. Lorene Bible said in a statement: 'We're very thankful to Rep. Bashore as well as Sen. Thompson and all those in both the House and Senate who worked with us to pass this bill. For us, this will help guard other families who might be in our same situation. This is so they won't have to watch the people who hurt their family members escape justice.'
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Yahoo
Police: Schuylkill Haven man steals truck, injures troopers
A Schuylkill Haven man is in prison after police say he rammed a door with a truck he stole and injured two state troopers. On April 13, state police charged Daniel Bashore, 42, with felony aggravated assault, criminal attempt burglary theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and other offenses in Wayne Twp. On that day, police said officers responded to the 1100 block of Long Run Road in Wayne Twp. after a man stole a 2005 Freightliner utility truck from 980 E. Main St. in North Manheim Twp. The suspect had driven the truck to 1188 Longer Run Road, kicked the front door and damaged it, police said. The resident at that address pointed a shotgun at the suspect, who fled, driving to 1176 Long Run Road and ramming the bay doors of the business, police said. Troopers found the truck at 12 Green Tree Drive, West Brunswick Twp. and ordered the driver, Bashore, to get out, according to the police report. Bashore resisted arrest so police used a Tazer multiple times to no avail, but troopers were eventually able to arrest him, according to the report. Both troopers sustained injuries, one to his right knee the other to both his hands, police said. The defendant agreed to a blood draw, which was done at a local hospital after troopers suspected he was under the influence of a controlled substance, according to the report. A preliminary hearing for Bashore is set for 9:45 a.m. May 13 in Magisterial District Judge Andrew Serina's courtoom, Orwigsburg. Unable to post $75,000 straight cash bail, Bashore is in Schuylkill County Prison.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Northeast Oklahoma students recognized for their brain power
OKLAHOMA CITY – Several area students were recognized by Miami legislator, Rep. Steve Bashore. Afton Eagles Basketball Class A Academic State Champions The 2024-25 Afton Eagle Basketball Team was recognized for demonstrating exceptional skill, leadership, and sportsmanship on the basketball court and in the classroom. As Academic State Champions, these team members had the highest GPA of all teams competing in the Class A Basketball tournament, with eight team members having a 4.0 GPA. Team members recognized with citations include Zandar Mace, Brady Robinson, Ricky Barton, Blake Ford, Kendal Landrum, Griffin Robinson, Aiden Victor, Carter Landrum, Brice Noblin, Levi Turley, and Cade Wheeler. Head Coach Bryson Cottrell and Assistant Coach O. Jay Bowen were also honored. Elijah Lee, Commerce and Hali Nair, Bluejacket Lee, a Commerce High School junior, was paged for Bashore at the State Capitol from March 31 to April 3 and Nair served as a page from April 7 to 10. House pages run messages to legislators while they are in the chamber debating policy and voting on measures, and they help in their Capitol offices. Pages also participate in a mock session, in which they learn legislative procedure and how to write legislation. Nair is involved in softball, basketball, FFA, Bio Club, and Student Council and taking concurrent college classes. After high school, she plans to study nursing at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College. Elijah is on the All-A Honor Roll at his school and is in the top 1% of his class. He's the junior class representative for Student Council. He's also a member of the National Honor Society and the Technology Student Association, serving as the eastern region reporter for Oklahoma. After graduating from high school, Elijah plans to attend Boston University, major in biology, and later attend medical school. Isabella McMillian, Bluejacket McMillian was part of the Oklahoma Youth Expo, which was held at the State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. Legislators participate in the Legislative & Celebrity Showmanship portion of the world's largest junior livestock show each year. This year, Bashore and McMillian showed Buddy the goat. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Lauria and Ashley Law' adds harsher penalty for ‘accessory' to murder
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Lawmakers at the Capitol voted on a bill on the House floor Wednesday that would require criminals convicted of 'accessory' to murder to serve at least 85% of their sentence before being eligible for parole. House Bill 1001 was authored by Rep. Steve Bashore (R-Miami). The bill would be called 'Lauria and Ashley's Law.' Bashore has been working with Lorene Bible, the mother of Lauria Bible, on the legislation. Lauria disappeared along with her friend Ashley Freeman in 1999 in Welch, Oklahoma. Two bills aimed at reforming state's Judicial Nominating Commission move forward 'House Bill 1001 is a bill we passed very easily last year on the floor but didn't receive a hearing in the Senate,' said Bashore. 'Simply Lauria and Ashley's Law requires someone convicted of accessory to murder to serve 85% of their time without any eligibility for early release.' The bill passed with majority support. Bible was seated in the gallery when House members voted on the legislation. 'I will do whatever it takes so another family doesn't have to bring people to justice to see them get out,' said Bible. Ronnie Busick was the man convicted of 'accessory' to the double murder of Lauria and Ashley. He was freed after less than three years in prison due to good behavior.'This person stood there while all this was happening to these two girls and did not do anything to get them help or let somebody know where they could go find these two girls,' said Bible. 'This is not about politics. This is a mother, a father, grandparents, and uncles. They have a loved one that disappears off the face of the earth.' Senate Bill 631, authored by Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, passed through the Senate Wednesday. It would add shooting into a home or building to the list of crimes that would require 85% of a person's sentence be served before being eligible for parole. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
