Involuntary manslaughter: Arnold pleads guilty to stabbing that resulted in death of man found under carport

Thursday, April 30, 2009
George Anderson

Max Arnold

A Caruthersville, Mo., man was recently sentenced to eight years in prison on involuntary manslaughter charges.

Max Arnold, 26, of Caruthersville, appeared in court with his attorney, Andrew Bullard of Kennett, on April 22, 2009, and entered a voluntary guilty plea for the accidental killing of Phillip Jarvas, 32, of Sullivan, Mo.

Arnold, who was originally charged with second degree murder and armed criminal action, received the charge of involuntary manslaughter following a plea agreement.

According to Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Steve Sokoloff, the charge was amended due to the lack of evidence to support the previous charges.

Arnold was arrested in late January 2008, following an investigation into Jarvas' death, who was found lying under a carport on East Fifth Street in Kennett.

According to police, at approximately 11:49 a.m., on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008, the department received a call saying there was a white male lying under the carport of the caller's home, appearing to be dead.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found Jarvas' body lying between the caller's car and the inner wall of the carport with a stab wound to the upper chest. Authorities also concluded that Jarvas had suffered blunt force trauma to the head.

Police later located a pocket knife near the scene, which was determined to be the weapon used in the stabbing.

As officers were canvassing the area looking for witnesses, one witness told the police that he had observed Jarvas arguing with another man earlier that night, who was later identified as Arnold.

According to the witness, Jarvas had been harassing people at the residence and picking fights.

The police report indicated that Jarvas initiated a fight with Arnold, who, according to the witness, struck Jarvas over the head with a beer bottle.

The witness said approximately 10 minutes later, Jarvas returned to the residence with a four way lug wrench, which he used to strike Arnold. The witness said at that point, Arnold took out a pocket knife and stabbed Jarvas in the chest.

According to investigators, during the interrogation process, Arnold told police that he remembered pulling out a knife during his second altercation with Jarvas.

Comments

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And why, may I ask, is this not self defense? The article states that Jarvas RETURNED to the residence with a lug wrench and used it to strike Arnold. Was he not supposed to defend himself? OH, the laws of this great nation never cease to amaze me!

-- Posted by BootheelRedHead on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, at 12:03 PM

Sounds to me like Jarvas got what he ask for.

-- Posted by MRWOLFEY on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, at 12:46 PM

Sure sounds like self defense to me. I wish someone would explain that to me.

-- Posted by Highroll on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, at 2:02 PM

Hummm, I thought Texas was bad. By the story, he was in the right.( Mr. Arnold) What about the Missouri Criminal Trespassing Laws along with self defense. Where is Mr. Arnold rights...Who were Mr. Arnold Counsel HUMMM? I do not understand why... Mr. Arnold is being charged. I guess it all falls under the tax payer's money. Go figure.

-- Posted by Terri Bollinger on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, at 4:34 PM

Hummm, I thought Texas was bad. By the story, Mr. Arnold was in the right. What about the Missouri Criminal Trespassing Laws along with Self Defense. Where is Mr. Arnold rights...and Counsel? I do not understand why, Mr. Arnold is being charged. I guess it all falls under the tax payer's money. Go figure.

-- Posted by Terri Bollinger on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, at 4:41 PM

He had a pocket knife but I am assuming not a POCKET BOOK!!! Sure you get my drift.

-- Posted by BootheelRedHead on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, at 5:39 PM

It is not considered self-defense because within the time that Jarvas was gone Arnold should of reported it to the police that way it would of been handled properly.

Self defense is only if there is no time to contact the law. This young man had time to contact the law between the first and the second incident.

I agree he should of defended himself. But, the laws are written for most to not understand them until itis to late.

-- Posted by who me on Thu, Apr 30, 2009, at 7:17 PM

This is dunklin county sokoloff has a obbsesion on letting a case go. he has to have a conviction. even at ones exspense, He does not have to do the time so just a win instead of loss . got it.

-- Posted by lilmissbossy on Fri, May 1, 2009, at 7:27 AM

It sounds like sokoloff just wanted to convict someone, self defense is what this is , maybe more people need to get involved, tell the trueth, from some of the stories I've heard, the dunklin county police department messed this up with the six or seven police officers supposedly investigating this, from my understanding there were too many, when there should have been a couple, there is no justice for the poor

-- Posted by concercedparent on Sat, May 2, 2009, at 10:23 PM