Woman Sentenced In Accidental Shooting
November 3, 2017 at 9:11 p.m.
By Michael [email protected]
Amika Bolen, 22, was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court I Thursday.
She was arrested May 28 after police found the boy with a gunshot wound to the neck.
Bolen, along with Sasha Bolen, 24, and Dylan Lawson, 21, were arrested after the shooting.
Amika Bolen pleaded guilty to criminal recklessness on Sept. 28. Judge David Cates sentenced Amika Bolen to 2-1/2 years in the Kosciusko County Jail with credit for time served.
At the time of the shooting, Amika Bolen was on a pre-trial diversion from a domestic battery case. She was given a year of probation to serve after her jail sentence in that case.
Scott Lennox, her attorney, estimated that after good time credits, Bolen will serve another nine months behind bars.
Bolen was at a mobile home with eight others when she pointed the gun at the victim and pulled the trigger, striking the teenager in the neck, according to court records. Bolen told police she thought the gun was unloaded.
Lennox argued Bolen’s six months in jail already served was punishment enough for what she did.
“There are two basic gun safety rules,” Cates said. “Treat every gun like it’s loaded, and never point it at something unless you intend to shoot it.”
Cates said he would not overlook the fact that someone was seriously injured due to her actions.
After the shooting, Lawson, who owned the gun, took the gun and gun safe and hid it in the woods south of the trailer home.
Lawson told police Bolen said she couldn’t go to prison because she had children. Sasha Bolen suggested they get rid of the of the gun.
Sasha Bolen was charged with false informing in connection with the incident. She is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on Wednesday.
Lawson is scheduled for a change of plea hearing on a obstruction of justice charge Nov. 16.
Amika Bolen, 22, was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court I Thursday.
She was arrested May 28 after police found the boy with a gunshot wound to the neck.
Bolen, along with Sasha Bolen, 24, and Dylan Lawson, 21, were arrested after the shooting.
Amika Bolen pleaded guilty to criminal recklessness on Sept. 28. Judge David Cates sentenced Amika Bolen to 2-1/2 years in the Kosciusko County Jail with credit for time served.
At the time of the shooting, Amika Bolen was on a pre-trial diversion from a domestic battery case. She was given a year of probation to serve after her jail sentence in that case.
Scott Lennox, her attorney, estimated that after good time credits, Bolen will serve another nine months behind bars.
Bolen was at a mobile home with eight others when she pointed the gun at the victim and pulled the trigger, striking the teenager in the neck, according to court records. Bolen told police she thought the gun was unloaded.
Lennox argued Bolen’s six months in jail already served was punishment enough for what she did.
“There are two basic gun safety rules,” Cates said. “Treat every gun like it’s loaded, and never point it at something unless you intend to shoot it.”
Cates said he would not overlook the fact that someone was seriously injured due to her actions.
After the shooting, Lawson, who owned the gun, took the gun and gun safe and hid it in the woods south of the trailer home.
Lawson told police Bolen said she couldn’t go to prison because she had children. Sasha Bolen suggested they get rid of the of the gun.
Sasha Bolen was charged with false informing in connection with the incident. She is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on Wednesday.
Lawson is scheduled for a change of plea hearing on a obstruction of justice charge Nov. 16.
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