Sudderth to face murder charge
Published 12:00 am Sunday, July 29, 2007
A Columbus man arrested last month in connection with the shooting death of an Ironton man was one of two people indicted Thursday by a Lawrence County grand jury.
Lawrence County Prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr., said Isaiah Sudderth, 25, was indicted on one count of
murder with a gun specification. If he is convicted, he faces a lengthy prison sentence.
“It’s life with the eligibility of parole after 18 years,” Collier said. The gun specification would add three years to that.
Sudderth was arrested June 18 and charged in the death of Damon Pringle, 31, of 807 S. Eighth St., Authorities said Pringle was shot several times in the chest and back after an incident at the home of Sudderth’s girlfriend.
Pringle was pronounced dead a short time later at a local hospital. Sudderth’s attorney, Warren Morford, said his client is entitled to claim self-defense because Pringle assaulted him first. But authorities contend Sudderth could have left the house that night and did not, thus violating a duty to retreat that must be an element of self-defense under Ohio law.
Sudderth remains in the Lawrence County Jail under a $500,000 bond.
Also, the grand jury indicted John F. Wright, of Ashland, Ky., formerly of Lawrence County, on two counts of felonious assault. Wright allegedly ran a motorcycle off the road, injuring the operator and a passenger on the bike.