Man charged in shooting death

A Cloquet man faces murder charges after he allegedly shot and killed his friend after a night of drinking last weekend.

Thomas Allen Micklewright, 43, was arrested Nov. 9 and charged in St. Louis County Sixth District Court Thursday, Nov. 14 with second-degree felony murder, without intent. Judge Dale Harris denied Micklewright’s application for a public defender.

Micklewright posted a non-cash bond for $125,000 the next day, Friday, Nov. 15, so he is no longer in custody.

According to the criminal complaint, officers from the Fond du Lac Police Department and St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office responded to Micklewright’s home on the 3500 block of Brevator Road at approximately 5 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9. While the home is only about four miles from the Fond du Lac Reservation’s business center, it lies across the county line in Brevator Township and St. Louis County.

Micklewright’s wife initiated the call to 911, but — according to the complaint — Micklewright admitted to the dispatcher during the call that he intentionally shot the victim, James Arthur Couture, with a .40 caliber pistol. He would not say why he shot the 65-year-old Couture.

When officers arrived, they found Couture in the kitchen and confirmed that he was dead. They did not find any weapons on Couture. Officers detained Micklewright and secured the scene without incident.

Law enforcement later learned that Micklewright and his wife were hosting Couture and his wife throughout the night, and that each couple had been consuming alcohol. A breath test administered to Micklewright at 11 a.m., approximately six hours later, revealed a .20 breath alcohol concentration.

A preliminary medical examiner report determined the cause of death was a perforating gunshot wound and ruled the death a homicide. The funeral for Couture was held Nov. 14.

An omnibus hearing in the case is set for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 at the St. Louis County Courthouse in Duluth, Judge Shaun Floerke presiding.

Mickleson has a number of speeding tickets on his record and was convicted of driving with a blood alcohol content of more than .10 in 1994.