MAYVILLE – The man who police say fatally shot a Fredonia man in September 2012 has entered a guilty plea to a charge of second-degree manslaughter, Chautauqua County District Attorney David Foley announced today.
Theodore Wickham, 47, of Fredonia, had been charged with shooting Frank T. Slate Jr., 73, with a 16-gauge shotgun following an argument.
He is scheduled to be sentenced by County Judge Ward on March 17.
Christopher Grant, 27, also of Fredonia, already has entered a guilty plea to the manslaughter charges in the case. He has not yet been sentenced.
Wickham, who was identified as the shooter at the beginning of the investigation, has been out on bail.
Jury selection had been scheduled to start Tuesday.
Foley said the plea takes one of the major trials off of the docket in Chautauqua County Court but he does not anticipate that any other case will be moved up because of the change.
Acting Public Defender Nathaniel Barone was scheduled to defend Wickham.
Theodore Wickham, 47, of Fredonia, had been charged with shooting Frank T. Slate Jr., 73, with a 16-gauge shotgun following an argument.
He is scheduled to be sentenced by County Judge Ward on March 17.
Christopher Grant, 27, also of Fredonia, already has entered a guilty plea to the manslaughter charges in the case. He has not yet been sentenced.
Wickham, who was identified as the shooter at the beginning of the investigation, has been out on bail.
Jury selection had been scheduled to start Tuesday.
Foley said the plea takes one of the major trials off of the docket in Chautauqua County Court but he does not anticipate that any other case will be moved up because of the change.
Acting Public Defender Nathaniel Barone was scheduled to defend Wickham.