Man gets 180 days in hunting death
Thursday, June 05, 2003
ZANESVILLE, Ohio (AP) — A man who shot and killed his 13-year-old son with an arrow in a hunting accident pleaded guilty yesterday to negligent homicide and was sentenced to 180 days in jail.
Muskingum County Judge Kelly Cottrill suspended half of Alan Foster’s sentence, saying it was still a "significant punishment’’ for the crime.
By pleading guilty, he avoided a trial that was scheduled to start yesterday and a possible sentence of two years in jail if convicted, said Foster’s attorney, Christopher Pagan.
"He is remorseful beyond words,’’ Pagan said.
Foster, 40, of Middletown, told wildlife investigators that he thought he was shooting at a deer when he fired his crossbow at something moving in an adjacent field on Oct. 5, 2002.
The arrow hit his son, Jason Foster, in the chest, and the boy died about two hours later.
The judge also ordered Alan Foster to perform 100 hours of community service.