MANSFIELD — Accused murderer Jordan Skoog will reportedly be arraigned on May 1 in Richland County Common Pleas Court, according to defense attorney Robert Whitney.
Skoog has reportedly been served with an indictment charging him with murder, involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide.
Whitney, who said he hasn’t seen the indictment, learned his client was served when Skoog’s wife called him Thursday morning.
Richland County Prosecutor Gary Bishop confirmed Whitney’s information.
Skoog, 28, of Bellville is due in court May 1 at 2:30 p.m., according to Whitney, who said he has filed a motion to have his client’s $1 million bond reduced. The defense attorney said he is asking for the bond to be lowered so Skoog can go to work and be with his family.
Skoog is charged in the March 20 death of Austin Smiley, 19, of 671 U.S. Highway 250 South in New London, found dead at 1665 Frontier Trail in Mifflin Township from a single gunshot wound to the head.
A preliminary hearing on a murder charge in Mansfield Municipal Court was scheduled, delayed and then cancelled after Skoog was reportedly indicted by a grand jury.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department released a 911 call from the incident, during which the caller indicated the victim was shot in the head with a handgun and that those at the house had been drinking.
The woman who called 911 said she didn’t know who pulled the trigger on the gun.
Deputies responded to the location, which is east of Ford Road South and south of Ohio 430, at approximately 10:44 p.m., where Smiley was dead, according to the incident report.
