A Texarkana, Ark., man accused in the death of his wife pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and other crimes Tuesday at a hearing Tuesday before a Miller County judge.
Lucas Connor McCarley, 34, was allegedly intoxicated and in the company of another woman when his wife, Casey McCarley, 35, confronted him in the pre-dawn hours of March 3 on a country road in Miller County. Lucas McCarley allegedly told investigators he was just trying to get away when his wife jumped in front of his pickup.
When deputies arrived, Casey McCarley’s lifeless body was in the middle of the road, covered in a blue plastic tarp. The officers could clearly see a pipe, such as is commonly used to smoke methamphetamine, in a cup holder in Lucas McCarley’s truck. A search led to the discovery of a small, but usable amount of meth.
Lucas McCarley refused to submit to testing after his arrest but authorities acquired a search warrant from a Miller County judge which allowed them to draw his blood anyway, according to court records. McCarley is charged with manslaughter, possession of meth under two grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The manslaughter charge is punishable by three to ten years in prison and a fine up to $10,000. The drug charges are each punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Lucas McCarley appeared Tuesday before Circuit Judge Carlton for arraignment. Texarkana lawyer Joe Tyler, who was standing in for Texarkana lawyer Butch Dunbar, entered pleas of not guilty to all three felonies on Lucas McCarley’s behalf.
Lucas McCarley has not posted bond on a $150,000 bail set for him later on the morning he allegedly ran over his wife’s head and remains in the Miller County jail. He is set to return to court next month for a pretrial hearing.
