(SALEM, IL) — The murder trial of a 50-year-old Sandoval man is scheduled to begin today, with jurors being selected this morning. Johnnie Mack has pleaded not guilty to the two counts of First Degree Murder against him for the alleged November 2014 shooting death of 45-year-old David Harris, of Wamac. Court records say Mack allegedly overheard Harris soliciting his wife Debra Mack for sex while in his Sandoval home. It was Debra Mack who reportedly called 9-1-1 to report the shooting, eventually telling investigators her husband overheard Harris proposition her for sex, saying that Johnnie Mack left the home, returned to find Harris in his kitchen preparing breakfast and the two began to argue. She then reportedly told investigators that her husband went outside to a shed behind the home, returned and shot Harris, telling her Harris shouldn’t have disrespected him in his home and that he should have shot her too. Johnnie Mack again left the house and turned himself in to the Marion County jail the following day, calling his wife first to tell her the shooting was an accident. He has been held since that time in the Marion County jail, with bail set at $1 million. Mack could be sentenced to between 20 and 60 years in prison if convicted on just one of the two First Degree Murder charges against him. He is represented by Public Defenders Matt Chancey and Craig Griffin. The trial is expected to take five days before being handed over to the jury for deliberation.

Leave a Reply