Arkansas prosecutors seek death penalty for Oklahoma man

Wednesday, November 10th 2004, 11:21 am

By: News On 6

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) _ Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty for an Oklahoma man who was charged with capital murder in the killing of a former Maysville fire chief for financial gain.

Billy Joe Wolfe Jr., 34, of Jay, Okla., was being held without bond in the death of William Chetlee Janes on Dec. 3.

Wolfe was arrested in Oklahoma for the murder and extradited to Arkansas. He also faces charges that he kidnapped Janes and his girlfriend, who witnessed the shooting.

Authorities say Janes was shot to death on his couch and a woman at the home was abducted and then raped.

According to an affidavit, Janes was shot in the head with a .22 caliber rifle. Wade Alan Taff told authorities that he went to Janes' home with Wolfe to buy marijuana and that Wolfe shot Janes after arguing with him.

A pretrial hearing was set for Feb. 10. A jury trial was scheduled for April 25.