Judge orders change of venue in Guthrie case

Lawrence Guthrie will have his day in court, but it won't be in Cape Girardeau County.

Citing concerns about pretrial publicity, Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis said Monday he is sending the case against Guthrie to another county.

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 with police.

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

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

A Gulf War veteran and former Marine, Guthrie has said he has no memory of the events of June 13, 2012, because he was undergoing treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and was taking multiple medications at the time.

In court Monday, Lewis said news reports about the plea attempt could taint the local pool of potential jurors.

"I think it would make it difficult, if not impossible, to select a jury in Cape Girardeau County," he said.

Lewis asked defense attorney Bryan Greaser and assistant prosecuting attorney Angel Woodruff to suggest alternate venues.

"If we want to get outside the [news] coverage area, I would suggest Dunklin County," Greaser said.

Woodruff suggested taking the case to New Madrid County instead.

"I would also want to make clear my preference that you go with the case," she told Lewis, citing his familiarity with the case and the potential delays involved in bringing another judge up to speed.

Greaser questioned whether New Madrid County was far enough from Cape Girardeau to escape the influence of local media outlets.

Lewis said he would take the matter under advisement and set a March 10 date for further proceedings on the case, which previously had been set for trial March 11 and 12.

epriddy@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

Jackson, Mo.