Judge orders medical, psychiatric care in assault case

Lawrence Guthrie must receive medical and psychiatric care under a recent court order issued by a Cape Girardeau County circuit judge.

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.

According to an Aug. 5 order by Cape Girardeau County Circuit Judge Benjamin Lewis, Guthrie needs ongoing treatment for a gunshot wound to his jaw and psychiatric treatment for "depression and possible other conditions."

"Defendant's jaw remains painful; he has an exposed bone in his mouth and he drools persistently due to the injury to his jaw," Lewis wrote. " ... Defendant asserts that when he has requested medical treatment, the jailers have told him that further medical treatment will not be provided without a court order."

In the same order, Lewis overruled a defense motion for change of judge.

Earlier this year, Lewis sent the case to New Madrid County, Missouri, citing concerns about pretrial publicity following a failed plea attempt in February.

Guthrie's attorney, Bryan Greaser, filed a motion Aug. 5 to disqualify Lewis from the case, citing concerns he might be biased against Guthrie.

Among the concerns Greaser raised:

• Lewis awarded $50,000 to two plaintiffs who sued Guthrie in 2012, alleging he injured them during a physical altercation in 2008.
• Earlier in the proceedings on the criminal case, Lewis declined to direct the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department to intervene on behalf of Guthrie concerning his "medical treatment, or lack of medical treatment, and his other mistreatments while incarcerated ... despite the obvious necessity for same."
• Lewis may have been prejudiced by Guthrie's failed plea attempt in February.
• Guthrie fears any plea bargain may result in a minimum sentence of 15 years in prison "due to previous happenings in the ongoing case."

In February, when Lewis announced his intention to send the case out of Cape Girardeau County, assistant prosecuting attorney Angel Woodruff requested he remain with the case to avoid potential delays involved in familiarizing another judge with it.

Lewis overruled Greaser's motion for a change of judge but ordered the sheriff to "transport [Guthrie] for further medical treatment for his jaw and ... obtain psychiatric services" for him.

Under state law, Guthrie or his health insurer must pay for his treatment.

Guthrie initially had been set for trial Aug. 5, but the case was continued at the request of both sides.

The case now is set for trial Feb. 17 and 18 in New Madrid County.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Jackson, MO