'This appears to be an argument gone bad'

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Story Published: Nov 23, 2009 at 7:04 PM PST

By Kristina Nelson KCBY News

COQUILLE, Ore. - For the third time in less than a month, an act of violence has claimed a life in Coos County. The latest incident has investigators looking into a confrontation between two brothers.

On Monday, 41-year-old Coquille resident Nathan Todd Wallace was arraigned via video conference in a Coos County courtroom on the charge of Murder and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine.

Wallace was arrested on Sunday morning, after police responded to his home located at 320 West Central Boulevard in Coquille, where they found his brother, 38 year-old Lee Edwin Wallace lying on the ground, with a single stab wound to his side.

"This was a samurai sword that was owned by Nathan Wallace, who is our suspect. It was approximately three to four feet long, went into the abdominal area and through the torso," said Coquille Police Chief Mark Dannels at the crime scene on Sunday.

Lee Wallace was transported to the hospital where he later died of his wounds, his brother Nathan charged with his murder. Police believe drugs and alcohol played a role in the incident.

"Our victim was temporarily staying here, recently moved in here with his brother. This appears to be an argument gone bad," said Dannels.

During the court proceedings, an audibly distraught Wallace cried while Judge Martin Stone read his possible sentence outcomes.

If convicted of Murder, the maximum sentence Wallace could face is life in prison, the minimum sentence would be 25 years in prison.

On the Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine charge, Wallace could face a maximum five years in prison and a $125,000 fine if convicted.

Judge Stone appointed Wallace an attorney to represent him.

He will be back in court next Monday, Nov. 30, for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m.

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