Christopher Leon Osborn
A man accused of pistol-whipping another male and stealing items from the victim was to go before a jury Tuesday in Baxter County Circuit Court.
But, 44-year-old Christopher Leon Osborn decided to take a plea instead.
Circuit Judge John Putman sentenced Osborn to six years in prison after he pled guilty to reduced charges of theft by receiving and being in possession of a defaced firearm.
Osborn’s trial, which was to be held in the Educational Building of the Baxter County Fairgrounds, would have been the first jury trial in the county since COVID-19 restrictions halted such proceedings more than a year ago.
A jury to hear Osborn’s case was chosen Monday during a session at the fairgrounds.
The building on the fairgrounds is being used since it permits the social distancing required to meet Arkansas Department of Health guidelines.
THE CASE
In late October 2019, Osborn and a female companion, then 22-year-old Rebecca Higgins, allegedly entered the home of the victim, 21-year-old Gregory Mayfield, beat him with a pistol, stole items from him and fled.
Mayfield was listed as a witness on the subpoena list for Osborn’s trial.
On the same day the alleged incident occurred, a Mountain Home Police Department officer stopped a Chevrolet Blazer because of a problem with the taillights.
Higgins was driving the vehicle with Osborn as a passenger.
The officer had information that Osborn might be in possession of a stolen pistol. When asked, Osborn admitted the weapon was in the vehicle. An attempt had been made to scratch off the serial numbers.
The officer was able to use what numbers that could be read on the weapon and identified it as a stolen firearm.
Osborn was taken to the county jail. Higgins was released after being cited for traffic offenses.
About two days after the alleged assault took place, Higgins and Osborn were questioned about the alleged break-in and beating.
Osborn admitted hitting the victim and told officers he had broken his hand in the process.
Higgins told investigators she had taken a backpack from the victim, but claimed she was in the process of returning what had been stolen when she and Osborn had initially been pulled over for the traffic violation.
Osborn has had criminal charges filed against him since 2013.
Osborn, his wife 48-year-old Lori, and Mayfield have all has run-ins with the law.
VICTIM ALSO LAWBREAKER
During the time Mayfield was being held in the Baxter County jail on a theft charge, he complained about conditions in the jail and claimed a jailer had attacked him.
He currently has a federal court lawsuit pending regarding his allegations.
The last letter sent to Mayfield from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas was returned undeliverable.
He is also listed as an absconder by probation and parole.
OSBORN’S WIFE IN PRISON
Lori Osborn is currently serving a three-year sentence in the McPherson Unit of the state prison system for cutting Christopher Osborn with a large kitchen knife.
According to the probable cause affidavit in that case, Lori Osborn claimed her husband had a girlfriend, and that he had given all of her clothing and jewelry to the other woman.
She was accused of cutting her husband four times with the knife.
Mayfield was listed as a witness to that attack.
Lori Osborn pled no contest to her charges. She has filed a motion asking for a reduction of her prison sentence.
She basically claims she should not have been given three years in prison since she did not cut her husband very deep.
A hearing on the motion is set in Baxter County Circuit Court June 3.
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