Southeast Missouri man pleads guilty to cutting father with knife

KENNETT, Mo. -- A Campbell, Mo., man was sentenced to six years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to assaulting his father with a knife before the father shot him in self-defense.

Ricky Lee McCurter Jr., 28, pleaded guilty to felony second-degree domestic assault before Presiding Circuit Judge Stephen Sharp, according to Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Stephen Sokoloff. He was accused of assaulting his 59-year-old father, Ricky Lee McCurter Sr., with a knife during an argument on Oct. 24 at McCurter Jr.'s home.

McCurter Jr. entered his plea after waiving formal arraignment on the amended charge, which was filed Monday by Sokoloff. The younger McCurter originally was charged with first-degree assault and felony of armed criminal action.

Sokoloff said he filed the amended charge "at the request of Mr. McCurter Sr., the victim. Based on what the dad asked us to do, we made that offer, and it was accepted."

After accepting the younger McCurter's plea, Sokoloff said, Sharp followed the plea agreement as he sentenced McCurter Jr. to six years in the Missouri Department of Corrections and recommended he be placed in the 120-day shock incarceration program.

Probation and parole officials at the institution housing McCurter Jr. will prepare a report for Sharp and make a recommendation as to whether he remains in prison after the 120 days, Sokoloff explained.

"Basically, (Sharp) will either bring him back and put him on probation or he can leave him there ... he has the option," Sokoloff said.

At about 2:50 p.m. on Oct. 24, the Dunklin County Sheriff's Department received a 911 call from McCurter Sr. indicating he had shot his son.

Investigators determined the shooting appeared to be self-defense as evidence indicated the younger McCurter had cut his father on the hand with a lock-blade knife.

McCurter Sr., according to earlier reports, told officers he grabbed a gun and shot his son when his son began choking him.

The younger McCurter, who was shot in the stomach, was flown to a Cape Girardeau hospital for treatment.