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Valencia pleads not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charge from February shooting

Posted 3/30/21

The Fayette man charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of his 15-year-old son in February waived formal arraignment and pleaded not guilty in Howard County court on …

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Valencia pleads not guilty to involuntary manslaughter charge from February shooting

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The Fayette man charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of his 15-year-old son in February waived formal arraignment and pleaded not guilty in Howard County court on Thursday morning. Eddie Martin Valencia, 51, was charged by Howard County Prosecutor Deborah Riekhof following a hearing by the Child Fatality Review Board held on Friday, February 26.

Valencia appeared with his attorney, Brad Wooldridge, of Boonville, before Circuit 14 Associate Judge James Cooksey. He also waived his right to a 60-day preliminary hearing.

Valencia allegedly shot his son, Kevin Cash, in their home on the night of February 20. While the shooting was determined by law enforcement to be an accident, the review board found that criteria were met to warrant the charge of involuntary manslaughter. According to Missouri revised statute 565.024, a person may be charged with involuntary manslaughter in the first degree if he/she recklessly causes the death of another person.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Fayette police, Valencia told officers he attempted to dry fire a .308 caliber rifle, which turned out to be loaded. The bullet struck his son in the head. He also refused to take an alcohol breath test, according to the statement.

Valencia told police that after the shot was fired, he threw down the rifle and called 911.

Valencia was arrested on Monday, March 1, and formally charged with the Class C felony on March 2. Valencia was released from the Howard County Jail on March 3 on a $25,000 bond. He is scheduled to return to court for a hearing on Tuesday, May 27, at 10 a.m.

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