The murder charge has been amended to charge murder in the first degree. In addition, two counts the class A felony of assault in the first degree have been added. The assault charges involve the wounding of Clinton Police Officers Nathan Bettencourt and Nicholas Kasper. The previous drug related charges remain.
Although it is believed that James Waters actually shot the three police officers, Missouri law provides that if an accessory to a crime either before or during the commission of an offense, with the purpose of promoting the commission of that offense, aids another person in planning, committing or attempting to commit the offense, the accessory may be charged with the same offense. That is how Widger is now charged.
Missouri law provides for the same range of punishment for the accessory as the principle.
Murder in the first degree is punishable by either death, or imprisonment for life without possibility of parole or conditional release.
Prosecutor Shields said that the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Division of Drug and Crime Control has worked tirelessly since the night of the shootings and have continued to develop substantial new evidence. That new evidence has led to the change in charges in this case.
Courtesy of the Clinton Daily Democrat
