A Butler County judge ordered a Harviell man to stand trial Monday afternoon in connection with a November shooting death.
Accompanied by his attorney Ian Page with the Public Defender’s Office, David Edward Morgeson was to appear before Associate Circuit Judge C. Wade Pierce for a preliminary hearing in his case.
Instead, the 55-year-old waived having a preliminary hearing in his case.
After telling Morgeson about his rights, including his right to a preliminary hearing, Pierce accepted Morgeson’s waiver and ordered he appear at 9 a.m. Feb. 5 before Presiding Circuit Judge Michael Pritchett for arraignment on the charges.
Morgeson is charged with the Class A felony of second-degree murder and the unclassified felony of armed criminal action in connection with the death of Steven Scott.
Scott was found dead Dec. 11 on the front porch of his residence in the 100 section of County Road 4701, off of Highway M. The 49-year-old died from a single gunshot wound to his chest.
Authorities learned of the shooting when a call came into the Butler County Sheriff’s Department from Scott’s home, Chief Deputy Wes Popp earlier said.
When deputies arrived at the residence, they were met by Morgeson and a woman, identified as Rochelle Scott, and found a man, later identified as Steven Scott, laying facedown on the front porch with a gunshot wound, Investigator Randle Huddleston wrote in his probable-cause statement.
Steven Scott appeared to be holding a large knife in his left hand, Huddleston said.
Morgeson and Rochelle Scott were taken to the sheriff’s department, where they were interviewed separately.
Morgeson told deputies he had received a text from Rochelle Scott “stating she may need his assistance soon.”
At the time he received the text, Morgeson reported he was hunting in the woods at University Forest, north of Highway KK.
“He said he texted her back and asked if it had anything to do with her husband, Steven Scott,” Huddleston said. “He stated she did not answer, so he walked out to his vehicle and started driving to her and (Steven) Scott’s residence …”
Morgeson, Huddleston said, reported Rochelle Scott sent him a text “that it may get ugly, but still did not refer to whom or how it may get ugly.”
Upon arriving at the Scott residence, Huddleston said, the man got out of vehicle, armed with an SKS semiautomatic rifle and walked toward the mobile home.
“The front door was opened by (Rochelle) Scott, who exited the residence and went to stand by Morgeson’s vehicle,” Huddleston said.
Morgeson allegedly was confronted by Steven Scott at the front door, where “he (Steven Scott) started walking toward D. Morgeson, telling him to shoot him,” Huddleston said. “Morgeson stated he told Scott he needed to get in his car and leave, and Scott kept advancing.”
Morgeson, Huddleston said, reported he took the safety off his rifle and placed his right index finger on the trigger, with the rifle held in the “low-ready position.”
Morgeson, according to Huddleston, alleged Steven Scott then grabbed hold of the rifle barrel with his right hand and was jerking on it. The rifle reportedly went off.
“We believe that it’s probable that the victim did grab the barrel of the rifle,” Huddleston said.
Morgeson then went into the residence, removed a large knife from the kitchen and placed it in Steven Scott’s left hand, the investigator said.
“Morgeson then told (Rochelle) Scott that when the police arrived, she needed to say that Scott had came at him with a knife,” Huddleston said.
Morgeson had known Rochelle Scott for about seven months; she had been a “suggested friend” on Facebook, according to Huddleston’s report.
“He stated they had maintained a friendship status since that time, and he occasionally will help her out by giving her money or just being there to listen,” Huddleston said.
Morgeson further reported Rochelle Scott only had mentioned her husband a couple of times and talked about him “being very abusive toward her,” he said.
“He felt he was coming to her rescue; there were problems in the past between her and her husband, domestic violence, and he was aware of that,” said Huddleston, who indicated Steven Scott had moved back in with his wife about two weeks earlier.
When Rochelle Scott was interviewed, the woman reported her husband was right handed, and she believed the knife had been placed in his left hand by Morgeson after the shooting occurred, Huddleston said.
Morgeson later admitted Steven Scott had not been armed with a knife, Huddleston said.
Rochelle Scott reported she and her husband had argued the night of Nov. 10, and at one point he “grew very angry and grabbed her by the neck … ”
The arguing reportedly continued into the morning of Nov. 11, and Steven Scott allegedly became “more physical” to the point his wife was afraid.
It was at that time Rochelle Scott reported she sent a text to Morgeson asking for help.
Rochelle Scott’s account of the events after Morgeson’s arrival at her home were consistent with what he reported to officers, according to reports.