Buis pleads guilty to manslaughter
GREENCASTLE -- A Van Bibber Lake man accused of shooting death his neighbor in April has pled guilty to a Class B felony count of voluntary manslaughter.
Matthew Buis, 40, was originally charged with a Class A felony count of voluntary manslaughter. A plea agreement reduced the charge to a Class B felony.
Buis was in court Monday, where Judge Matthew Headley found a factual basis for Buis' plea and entered a judgement of conviction. Headley ordered a pre-sentence investigation, and set Buis' sentencing for Dec. 21.
Buis' case was set to go to trial on Dec. 8.
Buis was arrested on April 28 in connection with the April 27 shooting death of Clifford Hulse, 57. The two men lived across the street from one another, court records said.
Buis' bond was set at $100,000 cash only.
A motion for Buis's release citing Indiana Criminal Rule 4 was filed on Nov. 1 (C.R. 4 says a defendant must be released on his or her own recognizance if it has been more than six months after an arrest and a trial has not commenced and the defendant has been held in jail). The state responded to the motion on Nov. 5, pointing out that all delays of Buis' trial were a result of Buis's own actions.
Headley denied that motion without a hearing.
An eyewitness to Hulse's shooting told authorities he had been playing cards with Hulse and another man at Hulse's home on April 27, and that Buis had arrived at Hulse's residence around 2 a.m.
Some time later, the witness said, Hulse and Buis began arguing. Hulse ordered Buis to leave, the witness said, but Buis refused.
The witness said Buis then pulled a handgun from his pocket and fired two rounds -- one over Hulse's head, and a second that struck Hulse.
After Hulse was shot, court records said, Buis returned home. Police were called to the Hulse home just after 3 a.m., and Hulse was pronounced dead at the scene. The cause of Hulse's death was determined to be a single gunshot wound to the mid-chest. The bullet struck an artery, and Hulse bled to death.
Buis has said at previous court appearances that he shot Hulse in self-defense, claiming Hulse came after him with a filet knife.
A Class B felony carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.