Samuel Borntreger’s first-degree murder case was certified to Harrison County Circuit Court Wednesday morning after he waived a preliminary hearing during an appearance before Judge Thomas Alley.
Harrison County Prosecuting Attorney Cristine Stallings said she was prepared to present witnesses including Sheriff Josh Eckerson and medical evidence at the preliminary hearing for Borntreger, who is accused of poisoning his wife Anna in 2006 when the couple was living on a farm in the Amish community.
Several of Borntreger’s former neighbors, dressed in traditional Amish apparel, attended what was expected to be a preliminary hearing to present evidence in the case.
But Borntreger’s attorney, public defender Joshua Smith, said his client wanted to waive the preliminary hearing. He told the St. Joseph News-Press that the waiver would allow him to continue discussions with the state about a possible plea agreement.
Stallings had earlier offered the defense a plea deal but that was taken off the table. However, she did not rule out further discussions.
Borntreger, if convicted of first-degree murder, could face a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Judge Alley again declined to reduce Bortreger’s $250,000 bond, and he remains in custody in the Harrison County Jail.
He will appear for arraignment before Circuit Judge Jack Peace at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 28, in Harrison County Circuit Court.