SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff, Mo., man preempted his trial by pleading guilty Monday morning to six felonies, including a murder charge in connection with the shooting death of a good Samaritan who had given him a ride.
Joseph Wade Wisdom pleaded guilty to the Class A felony of second-degree murder, two Class B felonies of first-degree assault, two Class B felonies of unlawful use of a weapon and the Class D felony of unlawful use of a weapon before Circuit Judge David Jones, according to Butler County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Paul Oesterreicher.
The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to the shooting death of Stahl Lee Sturgeon on March 8, 2016, as well as the exhibiting of a weapon and/or firing shots at Joshua Joplin, Melanie Shands and Sharon Wagner.
Wisdom's plea took place before the jury selection process began Monday, Oesterreicher said.
"The public defender's office called me Sunday night and indicated their client wanted to plea," Oesterreicher explained. "The only offer that was on the table was that I would dismiss the (five) armed criminal action (charges), and he would have to plea straight up to all the other charges."
According to Oesterreicher, he was not expecting Wisdom to decide to plea.
"We made that offer a couple of months ago," he said. "It was the only plea bargaining I would do on the case, and the victims, most of the victims, knew exactly where I stood on it."
Most of the victims -- Joplin, Shands and Wagner "all indicated to me they were willing to go to trial because they felt Mr. Sturgeon deserved that," Oesterreicher said. "I talked to Mr. Sturgeon's mother yesterday, and she indicated if he pled guilty to the murder, that was what she was concerned about."
Oesterreicher said he told Sturgeon's mother it would be "up to the judge to decide how many years he got."
Oesterreicher said Wisdom entered what he described as an open plea.
"They (the defense) realize I'm gong to be asking for consecutive time, and of course, they are going to be arguing for concurrent time," Oesterreicher said.
Wisdom faces 10 years to life, which is computed at 30 years on the murder charge; five to 15 years in prison on each of the B felonies; and up to four years in prison the D felony.
Jones ordered a sentencing assessment report be completed by Probation and Parole and set sentencing for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 23.
Wisdom pleaded guilty in connection with an incident, which involved the death of Sturgeon, who was found dead inside his Toyota Camry on the parking lot of the Walmart Supercenter.
According to earlier reports, Sturgeon died inside his Toyota Camry of gunshots to the neck and chest.
Authorities initially believed the 50-year-old Doniphan, Mo., man had been shot inside his car on the Walmart Supercenter parking lot. However, as officers pieced together witness statements, they learned the alleged shooting actually happened on Highway 67 South.
Based on the investigation, officers say Sturgeon picked Wisdom up on the side of Highway 160 near Hillview sometime before 7 a.m.
While apparently en route to Poplar Bluff, authorities believe Sturgeon retrieved a large-caliber handgun from the car's center console when Wisdom allegedly began displaying erratic behavior and a struggle ensued, resulting in multiple shots being fired inside the car.
Wisdom then allegedly fired shots at passing motorists before attempting to remove Sturgeon from the car.
Unable to do so, Wisdom then drove himself to Walmart while seated in Sturgeon's lap.
Wisdom subsequently was arrested when Poplar Bluff police officers found him lying prone inside Walmart's north entry doors after their arrival at 7:10 a.m.
When officers checked Sturgeon's car, parked in a driving lane about 25 yards from the Market entrance, he was found belted in and slumped over in the driver's seat.
When Wisdom was interviewed after his arrest, he reported he had been using methamphetamine and had not slept in "some time." He also alleged he had been given "some 'bad dope.'"
Officers learned from witnesses that on the night of March 7, 2016, as well as the morning of March 8, 2016, Wisdom had made such statements as: "They've got guns, and they're trying to kill me."
Authorities say Wisdom called 911 himself while in the car with Sturgeon, saying people were trying to kill him.