BENTONVILLE -- A Jay, Okla., man pleaded innocent Monday to a charge accusing him of assisting another person in a 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 innocent to the charges.
He was arrested May 18.
Alsip is accused of purposefully aiding Ronald Fidler in his suicide by purchasing a shotgun and ammunition for Fidler knowing he intended to use the gun for suicide, according to court documents.
Siloam Springs police officers were called Oct. 31 about a body at 1200 W. Jefferson St., No. 18.
Officers found Fidler's body with what later was classified as a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his 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, authorities said.
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 the documents.
Alsip is free on $25,000 bond.
He could be sentenced to from three to 10 years in prison if convicted of manslaughter. He could be sentenced to up to six years in prison if convicted of the tampering charge.
Metro on 07/02/2015