Preliminary hearing set for Cape Girardeau County man accused of murder

The man accused of shooting a Cape Girardeau County woman to death in March will appear in court for a preliminary hearing this summer.

Ricky L. Schweain, 54, charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the death of Melissa Luttrell, 27, will appear the morning of June 2 before Judge Gary Kamp in Jackson. Schweain has requested a formal arraignment, according to online court records.

Schweain, Luttrell's stepfather, is in the custody of the Cape Girardeau County sheriff. His bond has been set at $750,000 cash or surety, with the condition he not leave Missouri. Public defender Jennifer Slone has been appointed to Schweain's case, online court records show.

Under questioning while in the hospital for self-inflicted injuries sustained in the incident, Schweain admitted to pointing a .22-caliber pistol at Luttrell but said she had grabbed for the gun, at which point it went off and wounded her, according to a probable-cause statement filed in the case.

He told Cape Girardeau County sheriff's deputies Luttrell had been threatening for a long time to have her friends beat him up, the statement said. Schweain told the deputies Luttrell had been living off him and Kimberly Schweain, Luttrell's mother, and he was tired of being threatened.

In Missouri, the penalty for second-degree murder is 10 to 30 years or life in prison. The penalty for armed criminal action carries a minimum of three years in prison, with no maximum limit.

kwebster@semissourian.com

3988-3646

Pertinent address:

1 Barton Square, Jackson, MO