By Derek Spellman
news@joplinglobe.com
PINEVILLE, Mo. — A Noel man was charged Tuesday with voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death last month of another Noel man.
James L. Patterson, 48, was arrested more than a month ago in connection with the Sept. 7 shooting of Marty E. Reece. That same week, the Noel marshal’s office turned in probable-cause affidavits and reports to the McDonald County prosecutor.
Prosecutor Janice Durbin filed the charge of voluntary manslaughter, a Class B felony, against Patterson on Tuesday in McDonald County Circuit Court. The probable-cause affidavit that accompanied the charge was dated Sept. 9.
Neither Durbin nor the Noel marshal, Jacob Boles, could be reached for comment Tuesday. McDonald County Sheriff Robert Evenson, whose department assisted in the investigation, referred questions to the Noel marshal’s office.
Patterson and his wife, Kimberly D. Patterson, 45, were arrested Sept. 9 and taken to the McDonald County Jail in the wake of the shooting. They were released after each posted a $25,000 bond.
As of Tuesday, there was no record of charges having been filed against Kimberly Patterson, according to online records.
Reece was shot more than once a short distance from his home on Alexander Street, although authorities have declined to say how many times. The probable-cause affidavit alleges that Patterson used a .45-caliber Ruger handgun.
The Pattersons, who live in the Noel area, are the father-in-law and mother-in-law of Reece. Boles, the Noel marshal, previously said that their daughter, Jindy Patterson, 21, was married to Reece, and that they have a child. The young couple were getting a divorce at the time of the shooting, the marshal said.
Authorities previously investigated self-defense claims that were raised in the case, although they have not commented on what led to the shooting or how it happened. Court documents give no indication either.
Efforts to reach James and Kimberly Patterson were unsuccessful Tuesday. A phone number listed for Jindy Patterson was no longer in service, according to an automated recording.
Boles previously said that Reece’s wife and her father were present when an officer arrived about 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 7 and found Reece dead of gunshot wounds.
While Boles declined to say if a domestic dispute between Reece and his wife preceded the shooting, he said officers were called to their home two years ago regarding an alleged domestic assault.
Court records show that Jindy Patterson sought and obtained a protection order against her husband in April of this year. Boles said that order was in effect at the time of the shooting.
Staff writer Jeff Lehr contributed to this report.
Arraignment date
James Patterson is to be arraigned at 10 a.m. Monday in the Associate Division of McDonald County Circuit Court.
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