Friday, January 23, 2015

Virginia Man Gets Prison Sentence in Accidental Shooting

Local news

A Galesburg man who admitted to committing an accident shooting in November of 2013 will spend some time in prison for the crime.
Knox County Circuit Court records indicate 22-year-old Jared Yard was sentenced yesterday to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty in November to a count of Reckless Discharge of a Firearm, and three-and-a-half years in prison to a charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. Judge Scott Shipplett ordered the the sentences to be served concurrently.
Yard was arrested not long after the incident in the one-hundred block of Silver Street.  Police say Yard and a 21-year-old friend were sitting in a pickup truck when he started displaying a sawed-off shotgun. Yard claims he accidentally shot the friend in the leg.The victim was later taken to a Peoria Hospital and had surgery.
A charge of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm was dropped in exchange for Yard’s plea, which could have resulted in significantly more prison time.
Actually, his prison sentence was for being a felon in possession, not for the accidental shooting. As everyone knows, very few accidental shootings result in jail time.

3 comments:

  1. It was agreed to by both parties and three and a half years is a good amount of time. It seems they also dropped what should have been a charge for the sawed off shotgun.
    Are you suggesting that the prosecutor shouldn't have made the plea deal?

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  2. Actually, his prison sentence was for being a felon in possession, not for the accidental shooting. As everyone knows, very few accidental shootings result in jail time.

    Um, Mikeb (my emphasis added)?

    Knox County Circuit Court records indicate 22-year-old Jared Yard was sentenced yesterday to three years in the Illinois Department of Corrections after pleading guilty in November to a count of Reckless Discharge of a Firearm . . .

    Do you even read the articles you post?

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    Replies
    1. "A charge of Aggravated Battery with a Firearm was dropped in exchange for Yard’s plea, which could have resulted in significantly more prison time."

      That made me think the only charge left was the felon in possession, but you're right. No need for such sarcasm though.

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