Man Charged With Murder Faces New Contempt Charges

Sunday, October 21st 2007, 7:50 pm

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- A McAlester man awaiting trial on charges he murdered his wife now also faces 35 indirect contempt of court charges for phone calls he allegedly made while in jail.

In the new misdemeanor charges, prosecutors allege 35 year-old Michael Erick Stachmus called prosecution witness Ashley Kornegay on 35 different days while in the Pittsburg County jail between July 9th and September 30th.

Stachmus is accused of disobeying a judge's order by continuing to associate with Kornegay.

According to court documents, Stachmus allegedly was having an affair with Kornegay while he was married to his wife, Regina. Stachmus was arrested this February and charged with first-degree murder in the November 7 death of his 33-year-old wife.

His murder trial is expected to start in December.

Pittsburg County Undersheriff Richard Sexton says most of the jail's cells have phones from which inmates can make collect calls.

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