Lakeville man killed friend with baseball bat after fight over sleeping quarters, charges say

Star Tribune

Last update: March 18, 2008 - 8:34 PM

A 31-year-old Lakeville man has been charged with second-degree murder after admitting he fatally beat a friend with a baseball bat, a criminal complaint filed Tuesday said.

Charlie Otto Reynolds was charged in the death of Joshua Jay Skare, 33, of Apple Valley. Skare died from blows to the head.

Investigators said Reynolds, who had been out all night with Skare, called for medical help from his townhouse shortly before 6 a.m. Sunday.

Paramedics found Skare not breathing, with no pulse and with blunt-force wounds. Paramedics performed CPR, but Skare was pronounced dead at the scene.

Reynolds was arrested and told officers he hit Skare with a bat during a fight, Lakeville police said.

According to the complaint:

Skare and Reynolds had been out the previous evening before returning to Reynolds' home in Lakeville. Reynolds said both he and the victim were drunk.

Reynolds suggested Skare spend the night. Reynolds went up to bed, but told police that Skare later came upstairs and tried to enter the bedroom where Reynolds was sleeping with his wife and child.

Reynolds said Skare threatened him and pushed him. After Skare said he was going to sleep in whatever bedroom he wanted, Reynolds said he became upset, got a baseball bat and struck the victim.

Reynolds made his first court appearance on the charges and bail was set at $750,000 without conditions or $150,000 with multiple conditions set by Judge Thomas Bibus.

Reynolds' next court appearance is set for April 7 in Hastings.

PAUL WALSH

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