Couch guilty of voluntary manslaughter

Nov. 10– Charged with first degree murder and found guilty of the much lesser offense of voluntary manslaughter, Carl Couch has likely already served most of his time behind bars.

Held at the Hardin County jail in lieu of $1 million bail since his arrest two days after the April 2, 2008 shooting death of 37-year-old Sammy Gary, Couch, 45, is looking at a sentence of three to six years.

District Attorney General Hansel McCadams said he anticipates Couch will be considered a Range I offender eligible for release after serving 30 percent of his sentence, despite a 1999 felony conviction for reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.

Selmer attorney Ryan Feeney, who was appointed by the court to represent Couch, but noted friends of the defendant contributed financially to the cause, described this morning’s verdict in Hardin County Circuit Court as a "victory."

He said he considered Gary’s alleged threats to rape Couch’s 14-year-old daughter the most "persuasive" part of his client’s defense.

Asked about the prosecution not presenting a witness to testify about Gary’s character, Feeney said, "I really don’t think they could get away from the fact that this was a really rough guy."

If convicted as charged, Couch, 45, could have spent the rest of his life in prison.

McCadams said he believes area juries have generally trended toward leniency in family-related crimes.

Couch’s estranged wife, who had custody of their children, had been living with Gary.

"I don’t think a Hardin County jury is different from any other. The jury took a lot of time looking at both sides," McCadams said. "We accept that verdict."

Sentencing is tentatively set for Nov. 22.

(For complete trial coverage, absent the verdict which came in after press time, read this week’s print edition, available first tonight at The Courier office.)