Story Published:
Aug 20, 2008 at 4:30 PM CST
Story Updated:
Aug 20, 2008 at 4:30 PM CST
SPRINGFIELD -- A man scheduled to stand trial next month for killing his wife in Texas County received a federal prison sentence of nearly 17 years on Wednesday for illegally possessing guns. A federal judge ordered Neldon Neal, 62, of Houston to serve that sentence consecutively to any state prison sentence that he receives.
Neal is charged with shooting Judy Lewis, his wife, on March 13, 2007. After the shooting, Neal hid out in the Mark Twain National Forest around Roby for nearly two months while law enforcement officers looked for him. Troopers found him in a remote area in Laclede County.
Neal is charged with second-degree murder. His trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 29 at the Pulaski County Courthouse in Waynesville after a jury is selected the previous Friday at the Moniteau County Courthouse in California.
Neal pleaded guilty last May 9 for two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The U.S. attorney’s office gave this account in an edited news release:
Neal admitted that he was in possession of a Raven .25-caliber pistol on March 13, 2007, when he fatally shot his wife. Neal also admitted that he was in possession of an FIE .22-caliber revolver when he was arrested.
On March 13, 2007, members of the Texas County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to Walt’s Convenience Store in Roby, in response to a report of an individual who had been shot. Upon arrival, they located Judy Lewis and quickly determined that she was dead.
Witnesses stated that the victim and her husband, Neal, had engaged in an argument that quickly escalated. During the argument, both Lewis and Neal armed themselves with firearms.
Neal was able to take possession of the pistol that had been in Lewis’ possession. That gun was subsequently discharged, striking Lewis in the chest. Neal left the scene before officers arrived.
In the weeks that followed, various law enforcement agencies launched a manhunt for Neal. On May 11, 2007, investigators with the Missouri State Highway Patrol located Neal in a remote area of forest in Laclede County, Mo.
At the time of his apprehension, Neal was in possession of a .22 caliber revolver. Neal told officers that he had discarded the second weapon, a .25 caliber pistol, on top of a trailer. That firearm was later recovered.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Neal has two prior felony convictions for unlawful use of a weapon as well as felony convictions for robbery and false imprisonment.
