FARMINGTON — The man who told police he intended to kill his neighbor appeared in court Monday.
Michael L. Selleneit, 53, of Centerville is charged with one count of first-degree felony attempted murder and second-degree felony possession of a firearm by a restricted person. Another hearing is set for Nov. 10 in 2nd District Court. Selleneit is being held in the Davis County Jail on no bail.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed in 2nd District Court on Monday, Selleneit called 911 “saying he had just shot his neighbor.”
He told officers the shooting was in self-defense and “his intent was to kill” Tony R. Pierce, 41, who lived next door, according to the court document. He also told police the handgun was under his pillow.
Selleneit told police Pierce had been “telepathically” threatening to kill him and that “Pierce has telepathically raped his wife on many occasions,” according to the court document. The allegations had been reported to police and had been unfounded.
Pierce was shot twice at 4:55 p.m., on Sunday, at his home in a trailer park at 555 N. 400 West, Centerville.
Pierce “is still battling life-threatening injuries,” said Centerville Lt. Paul Child on Monday morning. “The bullet travelled through his body after entering his back and hitting several vital organs. The bullet also hit the sack around his heart.”
Pierce is at the Intermountain Health Center Trauma Center in Murray, where he was flown by helicopter for treatment on Sunday.
Pierce “had a rough night,” said Child. “His lungs are not doing very well, according to the report I got this morning.”
Selleneit fired three shots at Pierce, Child said. Two of those shots entered Pierce’s body, while the third went into the side of Pierce’s trailer.
Inside the trailer was Pierce’s 8-year-old daughter. She was unharmed and is now with her mother, Child said.
Child said Selleneit has called police a number of times in the past 10 years accusing Pierce and another neighbor of having an inappropriate relationship with his wife.
“We have found those allegations absolutely false,” Child said. “Tony (Pierce) was warned to be vigilant, but none of us saw Mike (Selleneit) going to this level.”
Pierce was doing yard work on Sunday when Selleneit shot him several times with a .380 handgun, which police found in Selleneit’s trailer. Police also said Selleneit’s wife told them she bought the gun at a pawn shop about a year ago, which they are trying to confirm.
Police said although neighbors have said Selleneit has diminished mental capacity, police are doing their own investigation.
Selleneit was convicted in 1990 of attempted sex abuse of a child, a third-degree felony.
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