Circuit Judge Sam Pope has denied Richard Carson Owens’ motion for acquittal of first-degree murder charges in the April 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Jacob Stockstill.
Owens, a 20-year-old Crossett man who was committed to the State Hospital last year after he was declared unfit to stand trial, filed the motion for acquittal based on psychiatric reports from the State Hospital.
The State Hospital report, however, conflicted with a report from Dr. Myeong W. Kim, a clinical psychologist who conducted a psychological examination of Owens for the state. Dr. Kim found that Owens did not suffer from mental disease.
Pope denied Owens’ motion for acquittal, ruling that the matter would be settled by a jury. A trial date has not yet been set.
Owens was found fit to proceed with trial. The issue before the jury will be whether he had a mental disease at the time of the homicide.
Owens is charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, first-degree battery and committing a terroristic act on April 14, 2012.
He is alleged to have approached a vehicle and asked Stockstill and 19-year-old Kenton Pittman, both of Crossett, if they knew where he could purchase marijuana. Getting “no” in response to his question, he allegedly fired shots into the vehicle.
A bullet struck Pittman in the hand and another struck Stockstill in the side. Stockstill was airlifted to Jefferson Regional Medical Center where he died.
God bless Carson
Please stop. Anyone who knows Carson truly knows this is not like him at all. Mental Illness is a horrible disease that can surface later in ur teen years. I taught Jacob loved him too. Carson is my son it is my responsibility to see that he gets the help he needs to treat this illness. I know all of u r hurt on many different levels just as we all are but please know that vengeance & hatred is not healthy. Plse pray for all families involved & pray for healing to occur. We r all hurting & this is a situation I never expected to face w Carson. He was never mean spirited nor displayed behavior in his life that he would hurt anything. As I said previously I too loved Jacob…I taught him & this is something that hurts deeper than any hurt I’ve ever experienced. So please for all families involved please stop & instead ask God for healing all of our pain! In Jesus Name I pray for healing to occur in everyone’s heart & restoration to continue Caryn Owens