New judge appointed to Handle Mechels Case

Posted on Wednesday, April 8, 2009

AP-SD--Deputy Killing,0141 New judge appointed in Parker deputy killing case

Eds: APNewsNow.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) - Another judge has been appointed in Parker to handle the case against Ethan Johns, who's charged with alternate counts of murder for the shooting death of a Turner County deputy sheriff.

Johns is accused of killing Deputy Chad Mechels on March 15 when the deputy went to a farm house west of Marion to check on Johns' well-being.

The state's attorney has not said whether she intends to seek the death penalty.

Judge Timothy Bjorkman was first assigned the case but the prosecutor petitioned for a change so it was given to Judge Arthur Rusch.

The defense opposed that, so Judge Steven Jensen has been appointed.

State law does not require lawyers to give a reason and neither side would discuss the issue.

Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-04-08-09 0815EDT