Lawyer Says Johns Shot Mechels in Self Defense

Posted on Tuesday, April 14, 2009

A lawyer for 19-year-old Ethan Johns says his client acted in self-defense when he shot and killed Turner County deputy sheriff Chad Mechels last month.

Mechels was a former Lake County Deputy Sheriff.

Johns of rural Marion pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of first- and second-degree murder in the March 15 shooting.

A judge granted a request by Jeff Cole, Johns' lawyer, for a second attorney and for a special investigator.

Cole's argument that bond be reduced from a million dollars to 100-thousand dollars was rejected.

Mechels died in a gunfight when he responded to Johns' rural Marion home.

Court records indicate Johns admitted to a police dispatcher that he had shot the deputy.

The judge told Johns on Monday that he could face the death penalty if convicted.