Cothren pleads not guilty to drive-by

A man who allegedly fired into a house on Leesburg Road to settle the score with another man has entered not guilty pleas to his charges and will face trial for his alleged crime later this year.

The defendant, Royce Ray Cothren, will face trial in September on charges of vandalism and reckless endangerment with a weapon for an incident which occurred last year, leaving thousands of dollars in damage to the victim?s home.

According to the allegations against Cothren, the suspect allegedly fired several rounds from a 9 mm handgun into the Leesburg home of a man investigators say he was angry with.

The drive-by shooting, while leaving no one injured, did leave an estimated $2,630 in damages as investigators say Cothren riddled the house with bullets, the shots striking numerous pieces of furniture and appliances.

Specifically, the victim said he found holes in his refrigerator and washing machine as well as holes in a door and door frame. There were also holes found in a wall and a sectional couch.

Investigators working the scene of the shooting were able to find several casings expended by the 9 mm. The casing were later matched to a gun which Cothren had in his possession when he was stopped for questioning in Monteagle. Cothren would later give lawmen a statement about the shooting.

Along with the shooting, for which he stands indicted, Cothren is also a co-defendant in a separate case charging theft over $10,000, burglary and vandalism.