CRIME: TEEN PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN KILLING

JACKSON, Mo. -- Speaking softly, a 16-year-old accused of killing his grandmother pleaded not guilty of murder and arson Monday.

Joshua Wolf's face was red and puffy for his court appearance, and he sobbed more than once during his arraignment as he stood before Circuit Judge John Grimm with his attorney, Stephen Wilson.

Wolf reportedly shot his grandmother, Carol Lindley, 56, with a .22-caliber rifle from a second-floor balcony of their home as she sat watching television May 6. Police investigators said he was mad at Lindley because she refused to buy him an all-terrain vehicle or hook up a satellite dish to the television in his room.

An investigator from the state fire marshal's office has testified that gasoline was poured inside the house to cover up the homicide at 175 Paiute Lane in rural Cape Girardeau County, where Lindley and Wolf lived.

Wilson said that Wolf was pleading not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, second- degree arson and armed criminal action both by the facts of his case and by reason of insanity.

Giving not guilty pleas for multiple reasons offers Wolf more options, said Cape Girardeau County assistant prosecutor Angel Woodruff, who was in court for Wolf's hearing.

Although moving Wolf's case to another county has not been discussed with the prosecutor, Wilson said he would bring it up soon. If a change of venue is granted, more mental evaluations of Wolf can be anticipated, Wilson said.

At least two mental evaluations of Wolf were completed at the Fulton State Hospital, where he was sent in late June for a complete mental evaluation.

Wolf's appearance at his next scheduled hearing on Nov. 13 was waived on a request by Wilson. The attorney said that the trips from Fulton to Jackson for hearings are traumatic for Wolf, since he has to be kept in the county jail overnight before returning to Fulton.