Kingwood, West Virginia

From the Charleston Daily Mail of September 13, 2007

Substitute teacher acquitted in neighbor's fatal shooting

A man accused of killing a neighbor during a dispute over a dog has been acquitted following his six-day trial in Preston County Circuit Court.

The seven-woman, five-man jury deliberated for nearly three hours Tuesday before returning the not guilty verdict against Ronald Schleger.

Schleger, a 56-year-old substitute math teacher, was initially charged with murder, malicious assault and attempted murder.

On May 12, 2006, both Schleger and Douglas Livengood, 43, called Preston County's 911 center to report that Schleger had run over and killed Livengood's dog.

Authorities said Schleger later called 911 to report that he had shot Livengood.

Livengood's wife was also shot but survived.

Preston County Prosecuting Attorney Melvin C. Snyder III told the jury in closing arguments that the shooting had all the elements of malice, premeditation and intent.

Schleger, however, maintained that he fired his gun in self-defense.