Arraignment set in missing boy case

TROY, Mo. -- Arraignment will be Feb. 5 for an eastern Missouri man accused of lying to authorities when he said two brothers made him kill an 11-year-old boy a decade ago.

Joshua Spangler, 23, appeared Monday for a preliminary hearing on a felony perjury charge. In June, Spangler said he shot and killed 11-year-old Arlin Henderson of Moscow Mills in 1991, but only because he was forced to at gunpoint by brothers George and Chuckie Gibson.

But in October, investigators said Spangler made up the story, citing discrepancies in testimony he gave before and during George Gibson's preliminary hearing. Charges were dropped against the Gibsons, and Spangler was charged with perjury.

Arlin's body has never been found. After Spangler came forward in June, authorities spent several days searching an area near the Mississippi River, but found nothing.

Spangler pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the case but was treated as a juvenile defendant, given that he was just 13 when the alleged killing took place. State law at that time prohibited charging those under age 14 as adults, meaning Spangler would not have served any time despite the guilty plea.

If convicted of perjury, Spangler could get up to life in prison.