By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
Mickie Lee Skaggs appeared before Judge Rupert Wilhoit last Wednesday (August 13) for a preliminary hearing on charges that included three counts of attempted murder. According to testimony provided by Carter County Sheriff’s Deputy Nate Lewis at that hearing, he was working on the evening of August 1 when a call came in from dispatch reporting shots fired in the area of Sumac Road.
Lewis, who was the first officer on the scene, said one of the witnesses on scene explained that there had been an altercation between Skaggs and his brother. After that fight, the witness reported, Skaggs retreated to his car and shot at his brother as he drove away – striking his automobile. The witness, who was standing on the porch with her three-year-old child when the shooting occurred, reported that she was only feet away from where the bullets struck the vehicle at that time.
Lewis then testified that Skaggs called police to turn himself in, offering to meet police at an unnamed gas station. Lewis said that while he was not on the scene when Skaggs turned himself in, he was advised that Skaggs was read his Miranda Rights. After being advised of his right to remain silent, Lewis testified that Skaggs proceeded to tell officers that he shot at his brother with intent.
Lewis testified that Skaggs would have shot at his brother from a short distance, as he was driving away.
The defense asked Lewis to describe how Skaggs looked when he showed up at the gas station to turn himself in. Lewis said that Skaggs had scratches to his face and his head. When asked if Skaggs was bleeding, Lewis replied, “lightly.”
While Lewis testified that he was not at the gas station when Skaggs gave his statement, he did collect the statement of the other witness – the girlfriend of Skaggs’ brother who was on the porch with their child at the time. She told Lewis that Skaggs had gotten into his car after the fight with his brother, and shot as he drove by, approximately 5 to 10 feet from his brother, as well as the witness and their child, who said they were standing in the doorway.
Defense asked Lewis if they had canvassed the area for any security camera footage, but Lewis advised there were no cameras and no footage available. Lewis also advised that he did find bullet holes in Mason Skaggs’ vehicle, approximately 10 feet from the porch where the witness and her child stood.
Mason Skaggs did not give police a statement about the altercation with his brother.
Judge Wilhoit found probable cause to bound the case over to the grand jury, and denied the defense’s request to release Skaggs on bond with an ankle monitor upon protest from county attorney Brian Bayes. Bayes noted that Skaggs had admitted to trying to kill his brother and that the county believed him to be a potential danger to society.
While the defense argued that Skaggs was acting in self-defense after being “assaulted by a convicted felon,” Judge Wilhoit overruled the request.
Skaggs remains incarcerated at the Carter County Detention Center as his case moves forward.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
