Metzger changes plea in homicide case
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POLSON — Allen Metzger changed his plea from not guilty to no contest after the deliberate homicide charges were reduced to negligent homicide charges.
Metzger was charged with the stabbing of a Ronan man on Aug. 16, 2009, at the Valley Club in Ronan.
He was released on a $25,000 bond in December.
He also pleaded no contest to carrying a concealed weapon.
“He believes he acted in self-defense,” Metzger’s attorney Lance Jasper said.
Metzger and James Finch were involved in an altercation in the bathroom of the bar that resulted in the stabbing and death of Finch.
Jasper said that Metzger decided to enter into a plea agreement with the Lake County Attorney’s Office based on the needs of Metzger’s family. The agreement would enable Metzger to work and see his daughter every day.
The maximum punishment for Metzger was recommended for seven years probation, but Metzger and his counsel have reserved the right to argue for less time.
Ronan Assistant Police Chief Art Walgren, who was overseeing the investigation said that a new self-defense law that switches the burden of proof from the defense to the state, came into play during the investigation.
“It really puts an unfair burden on the prosecution, I think,” Walgren said. “I believe that this new law had a negative impact on the case.”
He stated that normally, Metzger would have to prove he acted in self-defense, but because of the new law Metzger didn’t have to.
“Normally he would have to say, he came at me with a knife,” Walgren explained. “He said a few things that just didn’t add up. It really changed the complexion of the case.”
By pleading no contest, Metzger neither accepted or denied involvement in the charge, but agreed to accept punishment for the crime committed.
Judge Nels Swandal of Livingston set the court date for sentencing for the first week of May.
Taking Jasper’s advice, Metzger implied that he would not comment until after the sentencing in May.
