Guthrie case moved to New Madrid County

The case against Lawrence Guthrie is leaving Cape Girardeau County, but Judge Benjamin Lewis will stay with it.

Guthrie, 47, of Jackson faces charges of domestic assault, armed criminal action and assault on a law enforcement officer in connection with a June 2012 confrontation in which he is accused of exchanging gunfire with police.

On Feb. 24, Lewis announced he planned to send the case to another county, citing concerns about pretrial publicity after a failed plea attempt.

Online court records show New Madrid County received the change of venue April 18, with the parties involved stipulating Lewis be assigned to the case.

New Madrid County Circuit Judge Fred Copeland recused himself to allow that to happen, and on Wednesday, the Missouri Supreme Court reassigned Lewis to the case, online court records show.

On Feb. 14, Guthrie attempted to plead guilty to three counts of first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer in exchange for a 15-year prison sentence.

Lewis rejected the plea after some of Guthrie's responses to standard questions suggested he did not understand the process or was not comfortable with the plea.

Guthrie, a Gulf War veteran and former Marine, has said he was undergoing treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and has no memory of the events of June 13, 2012.

In court Feb. 14, Guthrie told Lewis he was familiar with police officers' testimonies in the case but doubted some of the specific allegations.

He said his background as a Marine rifle instructor made it unlikely he would have missed had he actually tried to shoot someone from 100 to 150 yards away.

"I understand that I fired the rifle. Whether I actually shot at him, I doubt," Guthrie said. "I know I'm responsible for my actions, so I'm here. ... For me to say I would have shot at him and not hit him would be ridiculous."

In announcing his intent to move the high-profile case, Lewis said news reports about Guthrie's failed plea attempt could make it difficult for him to get a fair trial in Cape Girardeau County.

At the time, assistant prosecuting attorney Angel Woodruff told Lewis she preferred he move with the case, as he already was familiar with it, and bringing another judge up to speed could create delays.

Lewis had rejected a defense request for a change of venue in November, citing a Missouri Supreme Court rule that requires defendants to request a change of venue no later than 10 days after entering their initial pleas.

The case is set for jury trial Aug. 5 and 6 in New Madrid County Circuit Court, online court records show.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Jackson, MO