MICHAEL BASSMEMIER
WHITE CO., Ill. - A sentencing hearing held earlier today saw the final of the three Matz burglary ghouls shipped off for a light sentence in Illinois Department of Corrections.
Michael R. Bassemier, 49, was sentenced today for his role in the burglary of the residence of Donna Matz while she was at the funeral of her husband, Hank Matz, who died in a car crash in neighboring Edwards County.
Bassemier was represented by Public Defender Brian Shinkle; White County prosecutor Denton Aud represented the People of the State of Illinois and called Donna Matz as a witness with a statement from her son Joe being read out loud.
Shinkle called Bassemier to testify.
Judge T. Scott Webb was the sentencing judge that issued the sentence after the evidence had been presented and arguments made. Webb imposed the following sentence on the Class 2 felony Burglary - 5 years Illinois Department of Corrections, to be followed by 2 years MSR (mandatory supervised release, or parole).
Bassemier was ordered to pay all mandated fines, fees, costs, and assessments, as well as $4,930 restitution to Donna Matz joint and several with Charla Beth Sullivan and Mark Keller and restitution of $43,804 to Donna Matz joint and several with Mark Keller.
Class 2 felonies have a sentencing range of 3-7 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections or up to four years of probation or conditional discharge. The White County Sheriff's Department was the investigating agency that successfully investigated this matter.
"Michael Bassemier, when considering the circumstances of his crime, has appropriately been sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections for his role in an abhorrent crime that shocks the conscience," said Aud. "My hope is that the Matz family can finally begin to grieve their loss of Hank. I cannot applaud enough the efforts by White County Sheriff Doug Maier and his department, all of the members of the community that came forward with information, my staff, and the Matz family and friends themselves, in successfully bringing these individuals to justice."