Troy man accused of threatening to kill police

A child custody dispute resulted in criminal charges against a Troy resident after law enforcement officers said he threatened to kill them.

Robert Dale Basham, 84, is charged with one felony count of intimidation.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Lincoln County Attorney Marcia Boris, Troy Area Dispatch told police that they had received a call from a man who was the boyfriend of Shannon Shelton on Monday, Aug. 26. He said that Benjamin Basham had called their residence and where Shelton worked while she was there, allegedly violating a protection order.

The boyfriend said he was taking the kids to his grandmother’s house to avoid a possible confrontation with Ben Basham. Troy Police Chief Katie Clark then spoke to Shelton and she said Ben Basham had called the house where she lived and where she worked.

Shelton said she returned Basham’s call and she said he sounded intoxicated and visitation with the kids.

According to the affidavit, Shelton said Basham had called from a home located on Montana 56. Chief Clark determined that Ben Basham was not permitted to contact her by phone or any other way. The Chief then collected evidence that indicated Basham had called Shelton’s work place.

Chief Clark and Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy James Derryberry then traveled to the Basham residence on Montana 56 and spoke with Ben Basham and Robert Dale Basham.

Chief Clark said Ben Basham appeared to be drunk and was seated at the table near the computer with an open bottle of beer. When asked about the violations, Ben Basham allegedly told the chief that Shelton said he could stop and get some tools, but when he did, her boyfriend told him to leave. Ben Basham said that was a few days ago, according to the complaint.

Ben Basham said he called her house and where she worked because he was expecting her to drop off their child before work, but that she hadn’t arrived yet. He said she had been dropping the child off and communicating with him in the past.

When Chief Clark told Ben Basham it was still a violation to contact her, even if she said it was OK, he allegedly said Clark was wrong and told her “to do her job.”

According to the complaint, Chief Clark said she attempted to be more assertive with Ben Basham to get him to listen to her and then Robert Dale Basham allegedly told Clark and Derryberry to leave the residence and that they were trespassing.

Clark said when she asked Ben to talk, he remained in his chair, but that Robert Basham got up from his chair, yelled at the officers to leave.

Clark said she and Derryberry left the house and went outside to the porch where she said Robert Basham allegedly told them if they didn’t leave, he would shoot them. Robert Basham also allegedly said it was a promise, not a threat. He said he was dying and “that it didn’t matter.”

Chief Clark then told Ben Basham to stop contacting Shelton and he told her to tell Shelton to stop contacting him and Clark said she would, according to the complaint.

Then, Robert Basham allegedly told the officers to leave while they could still walk.

If Robert Basham is convicted of the offense, he faces a maximum prison term of 10 years and a $50,000 fine.