The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON - Joseph Shuba, charged with killing his wife last April in Dayton, pleaded guilty to second degree murder at a hearing in Columbia County Superior Court on January 16. Shuba was originally charged with first degree murder in the shooting death of his wife, Suzanne, and was scheduled to stand trial January 28.

Last year, Shuba entered a plea of not guilty by reason of selfdefense. His attorney, Dale Slack, had hired a psychologist who was to testify as an ex- pert witness that Shuba feared for his life at the time of the killing.

Columbia County Prosecuting Attorney Rea Culwell also hired a psychologist, who interviewed Shuba this month. Culwell says she felt strongly that Shuba’s actions at the time of the killing weren’t consistent with a self-defense plea.

“I’m happy that Shuba has chosen to take responsi- bility for what he did,” Cul- well said after the hearing.

In a later interview, Cul- well said she offered Shuba a reduced plea of second degree murder several months ago, but was turned down.

Culwell said that after both experts had interviewed Shuba, she had a conversa- tion with defense attorney Dale Slack. “I told him his client would very likely be found guilty of first degree murder if the case went to trial,” she said. After conferring with his attorney, Shuba decided to change his plea.

On the evening of April 29 last year, Shuba said he argued with Su- zanne in the kitchen of their home. He told sheriff’s deputies at the time that he then walked to a bedroom to get a pistol there, and returned to the kitchen and shot Suzanne twice.

A sentencing hearing is tentatively scheduled for January 30. Shuba faces a range of approxi- mately 10 to 18 years in prison.