KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Michael Bray’s mother recognized him from news reports as part of a group seen on surveillance cameras entering an elderly Grandview veteran’s home in September of 2013 and robbing him. She made Bray turn himself in after he admitted he was part of the group.
On April 23 Bray pleaded guilty to separate counts for burglary and robbery and on Thursday he was sentenced to 26 years in prison, 13 years for each count which will run consecutively.
The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office says Bray is the first of four adult defendants to be sentenced in this case where he and others went into the 85-year-old’s home and stole property that included firearms. There are also juveniles charged in connection with the robbery.
Bray was seen on surveillance footage September 10, knocking on the door and talking to the veteran before he pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the veteran. Then Bray and eight others entered the home and ransacked it, taking a rifle, handgun, ammunition and even a cell phone. The veteran said the same group had robbed him two days before.
Three days after the second robbery and after the surveillance footage had been released to news stations, Bray’s mother recognized him on tape and took him to KCPD’s Central Patrol Station for questioning. He was later taken into custody by Grandview police.
Bray’s conviction for burglary stems from his action of pointing the gun at the veteran and entering the home with intent to steal; his robbery conviction is for the act of actually taking what was stolen from the home.
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