Lonnie Liley pleads not guilty to murder charges of his brother in Bollinger County

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- A Bollinger County man waived arraignment and pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges he shot his brother to death.

Lonnie Liley, 42, faces charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the Jan. 23 shooting death of his brother, 50-year-old Jessie Liley.

Associate Judge Scott Thomsen set the case for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. Feb. 24.

According to a probable-cause affidavit filed in the case, Lonnie Liley told a Bollinger County detective he shot his brother in self-defense, believing he was trying to grab Lonnie Liley's gun.

Friends of Jessie Liley have said he was not prone to violence and have described him as a good man and a devoted father who went out of his way to help others.

Witnesses told police Jessie Liley was upset because he believed his brother had threatened his girlfriend's son with a gun, the affidavit stated.

According to the affidavit, witnesses said Jessie Liley had gone to Lonnie Liley's home on County Road 512 to talk to him.

Lonnie Liley's story had several inconsistencies, according to the affidavit.

He initially told a detective he did not have a gun before the shooting, but he later admitted he had an AK-47 in his possession when the son of his brother's girlfriend came over, the affidavit stated.

Lonnie Liley "stated that he was not carrying it around with any intentions," according to the affidavit.

Lonnie Liley's mother called 911 at 9:33 a.m. Jan. 23, the affidavit stated.

About four hours later, Lonnie Liley provided a breath sample that showed his blood alcohol content was 0.152, although he had told police he hadn't consumed any alcohol since before midnight.

Lonnie Liley is in the Bollinger County Jail in lieu of $500,000 cash bond.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

County Road 512, Bollinger County, Mo.