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CLAY MURDER SUSPECT'S TRIAL HALTS WITH PLEA AGREEMENT - Defense Attorney Says Prosecutor Dropped Case |
| (07/29/2004) |
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A Clay County woman plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter yesterday in
Clay Circuit Court for the death of her husband. The felony murder charges against Tonya Salisbury were plead down to the misdemeanor charge of involuntary manslaughter. The charges were reportedly plead down from a felony murder count to a misdemeanor charge after Clay County prosecutor Daniel Grindo failed to present an appropriate legal case against Ms. Salisbury in his opening arguments. Tonya Salisbury was remanded to the Central Regional Jail until her sentencing September 20, said Clay County Circuit Clerk Mike Asbury. Salisbury's husband, Chad Salisbury, was shot and killed September 23, 2002 in Widen, dying in the street of a gunshot wound in the long-gone coal town after he was reportedly involved with a number of individuals, including his wife, in a night of partying. Todd Salisbury's family paid $10,000 for attorney Dan Dotson to help Clay County prosecutor Daniel Grindo, who they claim has been unable to put a case together against Tonya Salisbury. Tonya Salisbury could be sentenced to one year in jail and up to a $1000 fine. Reports say she has already spent six months in the jail for failing drug tests while out on bond. Shortly after Prosecutor Grindo presented an opening statement, Tonya Salisbury's defense attorney John R Mitchell Sr. moved for a directed verdict from the judge. Mitchell said the prosecutor's opening statement failed to link Tonya Salisbury with a weapon, the crime scene, a motive, pulling a trigger, or even being in Widen when the man was shot. He cited case law. The trial then came to a halt, with the plea arrangement being accepted the following day.
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