A Byars man is back behind bars after a McClain County jury returned a guilty verdict October 19 in his trial for first degree manslaughter.
James S. Blackwood, 64, was booked into the McClain County Detention Center shortly after midnight October 20.
He had been free on $100,000 bond since the charge was filed on July 26, 2019.
The jury trial included seven days of testimony before Associate District Judge Charles Gray.
Jurors sentenced Blackwood to four years, the minimum prison term under Oklahoma law. Formal sentencing by Judge Gray will be 11 a.m. November 16.
Blackwood was convicted for causing the death of Leroy Atkinson on June 2, 2019.
According to Assistant District Attorney Lesley March, Blackwood had a history of firing guns whenever his neighbors were outside on their property.
On that date, the victim’s grandson was fishing when the shooting started.
He alerted his grandfather who directed him to leave the pond.
The elderly man then told his wife to call the sheriff while he investigated. Within minutes, he was dead, March said.
Atkinson was on his own property on a four-wheeler some distance from Blackwood, who continued shooting.
A bullet struck Atkinson, 76, in the head, killing him.
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