Pulliam accused of trying to kill his wife

By Michael Glover

Herald-Tribune

Fort Scott, Kan. -- A Fort Scott man was bound over for formal arraignment Friday after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing on allegations he tried to kill his wife.

Shawn W. Pulliam, 39, will enter a formal plea at an arraignment hearing that has not been scheduled yet. His attorney, Geoffry Clark, told the court Pulliam is on three types of medication, so Sixth Judicial Magistrate Judge Rebecca Shephan made sure Pulliam knew what was going on and that he understood his rights.

At the three-minute hearing, Pulliam appeared to be lethargic, and Clark said the medication makes his client tired in the morning.

Pulliam was charged in May with attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, criminal threat and obstruction of justice. Judge Stephan ordered Pulliam to be held over on all felony counts. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of 25 years in prison.

Fort Scott Police responded on May 27 to a domestic violence altercation at 523 S. Heylman St. Once there, police discovered that Carolyn Lotterer-Pulliam, 43, had been struck with a claw hammer, and there were allegations that Pulliam had struck her with the hammer, according to court documents. She suffered from undisclosed facial injuries and was transported to Mercy Health Center. She was then transported to another hospital. Her injuries were not life threatening, and she was later released.

Police at the time declined to reveal a possible motive or other details surrounding the incident, following its policy of classifying domestic abuse cases. Since the preliminary hearing didn't occur, details remain undisclosed.

Police arrested Pulliam, who has since been in custody at the Southeast Kansas Regional Correctional Center in lieu of $250,000 bond.

Records indicate that the couple has had a history of prior criminal activity.

On April 18, Pulliam was placed on 12 months of intensive supervision probation after pleading guilty to obstruction of official duty. On Oct. 30, Pulliam and Lotterer barricaded themselves inside their home on Heylman Street after refusing to cooperate with police, who wanted to question them after they allegedly slashed Daniel Robinson, Fort Scott, with a knife.