A man accused of shooting and killing his son-in-law at a residence in California on Sept. 3, 2014, was sentenced to life in prison without parole after entering a plea of guilty to first degree murder Friday, March 13, in Moniteau County Circuit Court. Donald L. Bateman, 68, was remanded into custody to begin serving his term.
Bateman, a double amputee in a wheelchair, appeared in court before Judge Kenneth Michael Hayden and changed his plea from not guilty to guilty, after which his sentence was handed down.
He was originally charged with the first degree murder of Antoine Johnson, 43 on Sept. 3, 2014, after City of California Police Officers responded to a disturbance at a duplex on west Main Streetabout 8:30 p.m. The officers found Johnson inside the residence with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He was transported to St. Mary's Health Center, where he later died from his wounds.
The two were reported to ave been arguing while drinking and working on a water heater.
Bateman was reported to have been found in the room with a .38 caliber pistol in his lap. He was taken into custody at the residence.