STAR JOURNAL REPORT

A 60-year-old Tripoli man accused of trying to shoot his wife at their town of Lynne residence last month pleaded not guilty Monday in Oneida County Circuit Court.

Kenneth S. Welsh faces felony charges of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and reckless injury as well as misdemeanor counts of domestic abuse battery and possessing a firearm while intoxicated.

On April 19, Welsh is accused of possessing a firearm during a physical altercation with his wife, Mary Butler, and receiving a gunshot wound to his shoulder during the altercation. Upon Butler then leaving the residence, court records allege Welsh shot the windshield of the vehicle with which she drove away.

Court records further state that Welsh was apprehended at his residence after Special Response Team officers responded to the scene and used beanbag rounds to subdue him. Welsh allegedly was upset about the couple about to be evicted from the residence and had been making threats about possibly blowing up the house and not going to go down without a fight.

Butler, who was in court for Monday’s arraignment, spoke on the record when she stated before Judge Michael H. Bloom that her husband is not guilty, according to Welsh’s attorney, public defender Mary Roth Burns.

Court records note Bloom then suggested Butler contact Burns to provide her with a statement.

Welsh, who is being held on a $100,000 cash bond, is scheduled back in court July 12 for a pretrial conference.