Nov 14, 2019

St. Joseph man sentenced to 14 years in prison for shooting

Posted Nov 14, 2019 3:10 PM

By BRENT MARTIN

St. Joseph Post


A 35-year-old St. Joseph man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for shooting a woman who owed him $800 for drugs.


The Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s office reports James Mueller was sentenced by Circuit Judge Dan Kellogg.


St. Joseph Police says Mueller and 25-year-old Damien Woolery shared a residence at 1101 South 18th Street in St. Joseph when a former girlfriend of Mueller’s came to the residence in the early morning hours of January 2nd and was shot. The victim told officers at the hospital she had gone to the residence, because she owed Mueller $800 for drugs. She said she also wanted to confront Mueller about selling drugs to a confidential informant.


When officers arrived at the residence, Mueller had left. Law enforcement tracked Mueller and Woolery down several days later, discovering Mueller with drugs, $1,500 in cash, and guns.


Mueller was sentenced to two consecutive seven-year terms in prison. Woolery previously had been sentenced to eight years in prison.