BENTONVILLE -- A Jay, Okla., man pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge accusing him of assisting another person in committing suicide.
Carl Alsip, 51, is charged with manslaughter, a Class C felony, and tampering with evidence, a Class D felony. He appeared in court Monday for his arraignment and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He was arrested May 18.
Alsip is accused of purposefully aiding Ronald Fidler in committing suicide by purchasing a shotgun and ammunition for Fidler knowing he intended to use the gun to commit suicide, according to court documents.
Siloam Springs Police officers were called Oct. 31 about a dead body at 1200 W. Jefferson St., No. 18.
Officers found Fidler's body with what later was classified as a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A crime scene examination didn't find a firearm, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Alsip admitted assisting Fidler with the suicide by purchasing the shotgun and ammunition for him because Fidler could not legally purchase a weapon.
When Alsip found Fidler dead, he took the shotgun and slugs to his home to hide his involvement because the shotgun was registered to him, according to court documents. He then notified authorities, who later took the firearm and submitted it to the state Crime Laboratory for testing, according to court documents.
Alsip is free on $25,000 bond.
He could be sentenced from three to 10 years in prison if convicted of manslaughter. He could be sentenced up to six years in prison if convicted of the tampering charge.
NW News on 06/30/2015