ZANESVILLE, Ohio (AVC News) — Rebecca Besser has been sentenced to 46 to 50 years in prison after firing at Muskingum County Sheriff’s deputies during an armed standoff at her residence.
Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch said the state requested the maximum possible sentence of 55 years. The court imposed eight years for each felonious assault count and an additional 14 years for firearm-related offenses.
Besser was also ordered to surrender her weapons and pay restitution for a law enforcement drone she shot and disabled during the standoff.
The incident began when deputies attempted to serve a court order at Besser’s residence. She threatened officers with a firearm and barricaded herself inside the apartment.
Deputies withdrew, evacuated neighboring residents and spent nearly two hours attempting to negotiate with Besser through phone calls, text messages and loudspeakers. Nearby Tri-Valley Middle School and High School were also placed on lockdown.
After negotiations and other efforts failed, deputies used an armored vehicle to breach a doorway blocked by furniture. Besser then fired at deputies from a concealed position, and officers returned fire.
Besser refused to surrender, and deputies later deployed a drone inside the residence to locate her. She shot and disabled the drone, leading to another exchange of gunfire.
The sheriff’s office armored vehicle was struck by nine bullets, including shots that hit just below a deputy’s position.
Welch said he sought the maximum sentence because Besser had opportunities to reconsider her actions but fired at law enforcement twice, putting deputies, nearby residents and the community at risk.
