1/30/13 - A local judge has declined to lower the bond for a Howell man charged in connection with a fatal shooting at a Brighton Township gun range. 19-year-old Jessce Lincon Stearn is facing manslaughter and felony firearms counts for the June 30th, 2012 incident at the Livingston Conservation and Sports Association gun range. Heâs being held on a $250,000 cash bond and at a recent hearing; Livingston County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty denied a motion to lower his bond. Police say Stearn was holding a replica AK-47 when it discharged and hit Charles Robert Kimball in the head and killed him instantly. Stearn told police the gun discharged while he was cleaning the weapon. Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte said there were concerns with his story from the beginning and witness accounts contradicted his claim, which led to the warrant being issued. He also noted that the weapon was examined and tested but it never malfunctioned. He says that, along with the trajectory of the bullet, gave cause for concern. Prosecutors said the manslaughter charge was filed because the defendant did not intend to kill Kimball but was deliberately aiming the weapon when it fired. Stearn is scheduled to go to trial in March if no plea deal is reached. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison on the manslaughter charge and an additional two years on the felony firearm charge. (JM)
↧