Troy man faces charges related to the kidnapping of his daughter

Benjamin Basham pleaded not guilty to multiple charges in Lincoln County District Court related to the abduction of his daughter in late July.

Basham, 32, faces felony charges of aggravated assault and parenting interference stemming from the July 29 incident. He was arraigned in court Aug. 31.

Authorities accuse Basham of assaulting his ex-girlfriend in Troy and then making off with the couple’s 6-year-old child. According to an affidavit written by Travis Miller of the Troy Police Department, local authorities arrived at Basham’s ex-girlfriend’s home about 6:29 p.m., finding her struggling to stand following the alleged attack.

The woman told Miller that Basham arrived earlier in the day and asked to take the child. When she refused, Basham hit her and grabbed the 6-year-old.

The ex-girlfriend tried to stop Basham on his way out and he struck her again, according to the affidavit.

Miller described the woman as becoming increasingly disoriented during their conversation. At one point, she started screaming that she had lost her vision, according to the affidavit. Later, she mistook Troy Police Chief Katie Davis for her mother.

A witness told Miller that Basham struck the woman with an object. Investigators believe it may have been a 24-ounce can of beer. Miller found an empty can at the scene, according to the affidavit.

Authorities in Lincoln County launched an unsuccessful search for Basham and his daughter after the incident, but the pair was located in Oregon soon after.

Deputies with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office found the child in the backseat of a vehicle leaving a property on Humbug Creek Road on July 31. A relative — but not Basham — was behind the wheel, according to a press release issued by the sheriff’s office.

Members of the county SWAT team approached the property after authorities secured the child. They arrested Basham and held him on a $100,000 bond. Officials turned the 6-year-old over to the care of the Oregon Department of Human Services.

An omnibus hearing is scheduled in Lincoln County for Nov. 16 with a pretrial hearing to follow on Dec. 17. Were the case to go to trial, it would begin Jan. 12.

Aggravated assault carries a punishment of up to 20 years behind bars and a $50,000 fine. Parenting interference is punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and a $50,000 fine.