Gasconade County Republican

James W. RuthA former Owensville youth accused of violating his probation in the manslaughter death of a local teen in 2005 has a March 16 court appearance scheduled as the county prosecutor seeks to have his probation revoked.

James W. Ruth, now 23, was in court Friday in Hermann before Presiding Circuit Judge Gael D. Wood. According to Prosecuting Attorney Ada Brehe-Krueger, Ruth’s request for the assignment of a public defender was granted by the court.

Ruth remains jailed without bond in Osage County following his failure to appear at the Crawford County Jail in Steelville on Feb. 2 to begin serving a 20-day shock incarceration period as ordered by the judge in late January. Wood had ordered the shock incarceration following a report from the circuit’s Board of Probation and Parole that Ruth had violated conditions of his probation by being in Owensville without court approval.

Ruth is also alleged to have been driving a motor vehicle without a court-ordered ignition interlock device.

Ruth did not report to the jail as ordered and a no bond warrant was issued Feb. 3. He was arrested at a residence in Bland later that night. He is scheduled to appear in Wood’s court at 1:15 p.m. March 16.

Ruth pleaded guilty to shooting Deonna Monier to death after pointing a loaded 12-gauge shotgun at her and discharging it during a July 24, 2005, house party south of Owensville. Monier was 16 at the time of her death.