MARYVILLE, Mo. — A 30-year-old Tarkio man pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and armed criminal action Wednesday morning in the stabbing death of a Nodaway County man last year.

Steven T. Sapp chose to avoid a scheduled three-day jury trial in Nodaway County Circuit Court by entering the plea to charges pending against him. The change occurred as a jury pool was assembling for the trial, said Nodaway County Prosecutor David Baird.

Mr. Sapp was charged with the voluntary manslaughter of Steven A. Leach — a 40-year-old Maryville man — and felony armed criminal action. Both men were involved in a March 30, 2008, fight outside the house of Mr. Leach’s wife, Ruschia, in Pickering in northern Nodaway County. Mr. Sapp was originally charged with second-degree murder.

“The state had prepared charges of voluntary manslaughter to submit to the jury” based on evidence that Mr. Leach was the initial aggressor in the fight, Mr. Baird said. “In that charge, the state alleged that (Mr.) Sapp caused the death of Steven Leach by stabbing or cutting him with a knife and that (Mr.) Sapp stabbed him for the purpose of causing serious physical injury,” he added.

Circuit Judge Roger Prokes set a June 22 sentencing. The Missouri Department of Probation and Parole will prepare a sentencing assessment report.

The prosecution and defense will be allowed to make a sentencing recommendation to the court — since the plea occurred on the day of the trial — but Mr. Prokes will issue the decision on punishment.

In Missouri, a voluntary manslaughter conviction carries a potential punishment of five to 15 years in a prison. A minimum three-year sentence is possible for armed criminal action.

“In this case, while the state was confident in its witnesses and testimony, it became obvious that the facts of this incident fit voluntary manslaughter,” Mr. Baird said.

At a preliminary hearing, Nodaway County Coroner Vince Shelby said Mr. Leach died from a cut to the brachial artery on his upper left arm that resulted in massive blood loss. A pocketknife was the weapon.

Mr. Leach was able to drive his pickup two blocks from the scene before losing consciousness and crashing. Two of his daughters, ages 2 and 5, were passengers in the truck.

Mrs. Leach testified at the preliminary hearing that she was at home when the fight broke out, but did not witness the men’s confrontation.

Mr. Sapp remains in the custody of the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Department. He had earlier served a seven-year state prison sentence for a conviction of felony receiving stolen property.

Ray Scherer can be reached at rscherer@npgco.com.