10/24/12 - A Howell man has been formally charged in connection with a fatal shooting in June at a Brighton Township gun range. 19-year-old Jessce Lincon Stearn was arraigned today on manslaughter and felony firearms counts for the June 30th incident at the Livingston Conservation and Sports Association gun range on McClements Road in Brighton. Police say Stearns was holding a replica AK-47 when it discharged and hit Charles Robert Kimball in the head and killed him instantly. Stearns told police the gun discharged while he was cleaning the weapon. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte tells WHMI they originally believed the shooting was accidental, based on witness testimony at the gun club that was given on the day of the incident but concerns surfaced soon after that. As it bears out, he says witnesses came forward and gave a different account of what happened, which led to the warrant being issued. Bezotte says the weapon had been sent to the Michigan State Police Crime Lab in Lansing for examination and testing but no one there could get it to malfunction. He says that caused concern as well as trajectory of the bullet from the position Stearn said he was, compared to where the victim was. Livingston County Prosecutor David Morse told WHMI that while he canât discuss the specifics of this case, a manslaughter charge means the defendant did not intend to kill Mr. Kimball but was deliberately aiming the weapon when it fired. Stearn was ordered held on a $250,000 cash bond. Heâs due back in court next Wednesday for an exam conference. If convicted, Stearn would face up to 15 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and an additional two years on the felony firearm charge. (JK/JM)
↧