Byron Case was certified as a prior offender for his previous felony conviction during his murder trial.⁽¹⁾

Case was arrested May 16, 1996 on two charges, of Second Degree Burglary and Felony Stealing. While admittedly high on cocaine, he had attempted to burglarize the home of his aunt, Mrs. Nancy Nolker. Case pled guilty to the charge of Felony Stealing, and plea-bargained to have the Burglary charge dropped. He was given probation, and was on probation at the time of the murder.

Case was sentenced on December 30, 1998 to six months in jail, sentence suspended with five years probation. Case was cited for three violations of his probation, but was eventually discharged from that probation on March 3, 2003, after having served six months of his life sentence for murder.

Many of Case's supporters have asserted that Case's felongy charges were reduced to a misdemeanor; however, this is patently untrue. One of Case's two felony charges was dropped, and he pled guilty to the second felony count.

Other sources: Missouri Case.net