Trial set for man accused of killing wife

Police say suspect ran over wife while riding around with another woman

A man accused of running over and killing his wife earlier this year is scheduled for a November jury trial.

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Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/CARY JENKINS A guitar signed by Paul McCartney that was in the silent auction

Lucas Connor McCarley, 35, is facing charges of negligent homicide, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with the March 3 death of his wife, 35-year-old Casey McCarley.

Lucas McCarley was represented in court Tuesday by Texarkana lawyer Joe Tyler, who was standing in for Texarkana lawyer Butch Dunbar. Miller County Circuit Judge Brent Haltom scheduled Lucas McCarley's case for a pretrial hearing Nov. 1 and for jury selection Nov. 28.

Lucas McCarley was allegedly intoxicated March 3 when he knocked his wife down and ran over her with his 2000 GMC Sierra pickup, according to a probable cause affidavit used to create the following account. Casey McCarley allegedly pulled her car in front of her husband's truck after spotting him about 1 a.m. on Miller County Road 22 riding around with another woman. When Casey McCarley got out of her car to confront her husband, Lucas McCarley allegedly ran her over as he was trying to get away.

When Miller County sheriff's deputies arrived, they found Casey McCarley dead in the middle of Miller County 22, a blue tarp covering her lifeless body. In a cupholder in the front of Lucas McCarley's truck, deputies noticed a glass pipe used to smoke meth. Next to the pipe was a silver metal wallet that contained suspected methamphetamine and prescription pills.

An Arkansas State Police investigator who interviewed Lucas McCarley at the Miller County jail shortly after Casey McCarley's death suspected he was under the influence of methamphetamine. Lucas McCarley allegedly refused to submit a blood or urine specimen. That led investigators to acquire a warrant for his blood and urine at about 6 a.m. the morning of Casey McCarley's death. The results are not available in publicly accessible court documents and have not been discussed at Lucas McCarley's recent court appearances.

The negligent homicide charge Lucas McCarley faces is typically punishable by five to 20 years in prison. The state, however, is seeking to increase the punishment range to five to 30 years because Lucas McCarley has prior felony convictions.

Possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia are usually punishable by up to six years in prison. Because of Lucas McCarley's earlier felony convictions, the state is seeking to increase the maximum punishment on both of those charges to 12 years.

Lucas McCarley was serving two five-year terms of felony probation on the day of his wife's death. On June 10, 2014, McCarley pleaded guilty to breaking and entering and to theft of property. The breaking-and-entering offense occurred Oct. 17, 2013, while the theft was committed Dec. 22, 2013. According to motions to revoke Lucas McCarley's probations, he failed to report to probation visits for six months beginning in September 2015. The motions also allege he committed new criminal offenses, failed to make any payments toward fines and court costs, and used drugs.

A defendant being held on a pending motion to revoke probation is not entitled to bail and Lucas McCarley remains in the Miller County jail. Lucas McCarley's bail in the charges stemming from Casey McCarley's death is set at $150,000.

 

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