A McLoud man facing state felony charges after he already had admitted a federal firearms count and was sentenced, has been bound over to stand trial.
Christopher Steven Ledbetter was charged in Lincoln County District Court with five felonies on Sep. 14. They included planning, attempt/conspire to perform an act of violence; two counts of possessing a firearm during commission of a felony; endangering others while eluding and attempting to elude a police officer; and feloniously pointing a firearm.
His preliminary hearing was started on Dec. 16 before Special Judge Emily Mueller. The judge continued the balance of the hearing until Thursday, Jan. 27 this year.
His arraignment has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on March 29.
According to the records, a discovery issued was raised on Dec. 16.
In Count 1, Ledbetter is accused of on Feb. 16, 2020, conspiring and attempting to perform an act of violence intended to involve bodily harm to Lincoln County deputies by yelling threats and provocations while he was wearing camouflage and body armor while wielding an AR-15 assault rifle.
That charge includes his allegedly summoning others to the scene similarly dressed in body armor while wielding assault rifles with the purpose of initiating a shootout with deputies.
In one count of possessing a firearm during the commission of a felony, Ledbetter is accused of on Feb. 16 last year of possessing an AR-15 assault rifle while allegedly conspiring with others to perform an act of violence against the deputies and initiate a shootout with them.
A source said those two counts were dismissed but could be filed again.
The other possession of firearm count accuses him on May 19 last year of possessing an AR-15 assault rifle while com mitting the felony of endangering others while eluding and attempting to elude McLoud Police Officer William Hicks as Hicks pursued him.
The endangering others while eluding and attempting to elude reportedly occurred May 19 last year too, as he ignored Hicks’ efforts to stop him by accelerating his speed and running stop signs and in doing so endangering others.
In the fifth felony, Ledbetter is charged with pointing the AR-15 assault rifle at Hicks with out lawful cause with the intention of shooting the firearm at Hicks.
Even though Ledbetter was sentenced to 57 months in a federal prison on the federal count, he reportedly is in the Lincoln County Jail as the state charges proceed.
In sentencing Ledbetter in the federal case, U.S. District Judge Charles B. Goodwin noted the nature and circumstances of Ledbetter’s conduct leading to his arrest, including reckless endangerment and the attempted evasion of McLoud police.