Man pleads guilty in fatal shooting

MOSCOW, Idaho – A North Idaho man has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in what authorities say was a conflict between two friends involving a woman.

James Curtis Leonard, of Genesee, pleaded guilty Friday in 2nd District Court to killing Tyler Pace Lee in June 2007.

Leonard, 25, is scheduled to be sentenced May 15. Latah County Prosecutor William Thompson has recommended a sentence of five to 15 years.

Thompson is also recommending retained jurisdiction, meaning a judge would re-evaluate Leonard after 180 days. Leonard could be released at that time.

Authorities say the shooting took place after Lee, the night before, caught Leonard with Lee’s girlfriend, Amanda Draper, at her Moscow trailer home. Lee was under the influence of the psychedelic drug mescaline, according to court documents. Draper admitted to having an affair with Leonard, and Lee verbally and physically threatened them both, Draper testified at an earlier hearing.

Leonard left, according to court documents, and Lee called him on his cell phone to tell him he was coming to Leonard’s home.

Leonard tried to dissuade him but failed, and then armed himself with a .38 caliber revolver.

Leonard said Lee arrived, knocked him down and threatened to kill him, his wife and infant son, and their two roommates. Leonard said he shot the 25-year-old Lee in self-defense.