Charlo man gets 60 years for shooting wife

POLSON — A 33-year-old Charlo man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison for shooting his wife last year and trying to cover up the crime by telling investigators it was a suicide.

KERR-AM reports Adrian Michael McElderry was sentenced Tuesday to 40 years in prison for mitigated deliberate homicide and 10 years each for a weapons enhancement and obstructing justice.

Court records say McElderry called 911 on Nov. 18, 2014, and reported that 29-year-old RaeLynn Charlo had shot herself after getting upset about his drinking.

Investigators determined the evidence didn’t match his story.

McElderry pleaded guilty in May.

District Judge James Manley said McElderry becomes violent when he’s intoxicated and recommended that if he is ever granted parole that he be required to wear an alcohol monitoring device.