Man charged in hunting death
I'm glad they decided to charge that guy who killed an 18 year old while shooting at geese with a rifle from his truck.
http://www.cjonline.com/stories/010308/loc_231136744.shtml
Topekan charged in hunting death
Emporia State student was shot while hunting
By Tim Hrenchir
The Capital-Journal
Published Thursday, January 03, 2008
A Topeka business owner was charged Wednesday in Lyon County District Court in Emporia with involuntary manslaughter and three misdemeanors linked to last month's accidental shooting death of 18-year-old hunter Beau Arndt.
Authorities said Theron Thomas Kent, 57, surrendered Wednesday afternoon and made a first appearance in Lyon County District Court, where a preliminary hearing was set for Feb. 27. Kent was then released after a $25,000 bond was posted, said Lyon County District Attorney Marc Goodman.
Kansas Secretary of State's office records indicate Kent is president and owner of Kent Fence Co., 510 S.E. 15th in Topeka.
Goodman said Kent was charged with crimes that included one count of involuntary manslaughter, a felony. State law defines involuntary manslaughter as an unlawful killing committed recklessly, during the commission of a lawful act in an unlawful manner, or linked to the violation of any state law enacted for the protection of human life or safety.
Goodman said he also filed charges against Kent of one misdemeanor count each of criminal hunting, criminal discharge of a firearm and attempted use of an unlawful method of taking wildlife.
Goodman said no one aside from Kent had been charged with any crimes linked to Arndt's death.
Lyon County sheriff's officials said Arndt, an Emporia State University freshman from Americus, died after being hit by a single rifle shot at about 8:25 a.m. on Dec. 15 while he was goose hunting in northwest Lyon County. He was part of a hunting party that had put several dozen goose decoys in a field after getting permission to be on the land.
Authorities said members of the party were lying in the snow waiting for geese when a pickup truck stopped along a nearby road and someone fired at the decoys, striking Arndt instead. The truck then left.
Lyon County authorities said a tip led them to Topeka, where they located the three people who were in the pickup.
The Emporia Gazette reported on its Web site Wednesday that in an affidavit filed with the case, Kent - who is known as "Tommy" - told investigators he was hunting coyotes with his brother, David Kent, and an employee, Nick Wise. The three had stayed at a cabin in Lyon County that is owned by another Topeka man.
All three men told investigators that after leaving the cabin on the morning of Dec. 15, they stopped with a flat tire.
They then drove about four miles before Tommy Kent stopped and shot.
Both Tommy and David Kent said Tommy got out of the pickup truck and fired a single shot at a coyote.
Wise, who was sitting in the middle of the truck's seat, said Tommy Kent, who was in the driver's seat, rolled down the window and fired near geese in a field.
Wise didn't recall seeing any people in the field. But Tommy Kent later said he had seen a man.
"Kent went into detail how he shot at the coyote and later saw decoys and a man standing in the field as he drove away," Lyon County sheriff's Detective Travis Mishler wrote in an affidavit filed in the case.
Mishler was writing about the videotaped statement Kent gave investigators on Dec. 19.
http://www.cjonline.com/stories/010308/loc_231136744.shtml
Topekan charged in hunting death
Emporia State student was shot while hunting
By Tim Hrenchir
The Capital-Journal
Published Thursday, January 03, 2008
A Topeka business owner was charged Wednesday in Lyon County District Court in Emporia with involuntary manslaughter and three misdemeanors linked to last month's accidental shooting death of 18-year-old hunter Beau Arndt.
Authorities said Theron Thomas Kent, 57, surrendered Wednesday afternoon and made a first appearance in Lyon County District Court, where a preliminary hearing was set for Feb. 27. Kent was then released after a $25,000 bond was posted, said Lyon County District Attorney Marc Goodman.
Kansas Secretary of State's office records indicate Kent is president and owner of Kent Fence Co., 510 S.E. 15th in Topeka.
Goodman said Kent was charged with crimes that included one count of involuntary manslaughter, a felony. State law defines involuntary manslaughter as an unlawful killing committed recklessly, during the commission of a lawful act in an unlawful manner, or linked to the violation of any state law enacted for the protection of human life or safety.
Goodman said he also filed charges against Kent of one misdemeanor count each of criminal hunting, criminal discharge of a firearm and attempted use of an unlawful method of taking wildlife.
Goodman said no one aside from Kent had been charged with any crimes linked to Arndt's death.
Lyon County sheriff's officials said Arndt, an Emporia State University freshman from Americus, died after being hit by a single rifle shot at about 8:25 a.m. on Dec. 15 while he was goose hunting in northwest Lyon County. He was part of a hunting party that had put several dozen goose decoys in a field after getting permission to be on the land.
Authorities said members of the party were lying in the snow waiting for geese when a pickup truck stopped along a nearby road and someone fired at the decoys, striking Arndt instead. The truck then left.
Lyon County authorities said a tip led them to Topeka, where they located the three people who were in the pickup.
The Emporia Gazette reported on its Web site Wednesday that in an affidavit filed with the case, Kent - who is known as "Tommy" - told investigators he was hunting coyotes with his brother, David Kent, and an employee, Nick Wise. The three had stayed at a cabin in Lyon County that is owned by another Topeka man.
All three men told investigators that after leaving the cabin on the morning of Dec. 15, they stopped with a flat tire.
They then drove about four miles before Tommy Kent stopped and shot.
Both Tommy and David Kent said Tommy got out of the pickup truck and fired a single shot at a coyote.
Wise, who was sitting in the middle of the truck's seat, said Tommy Kent, who was in the driver's seat, rolled down the window and fired near geese in a field.
Wise didn't recall seeing any people in the field. But Tommy Kent later said he had seen a man.
"Kent went into detail how he shot at the coyote and later saw decoys and a man standing in the field as he drove away," Lyon County sheriff's Detective Travis Mishler wrote in an affidavit filed in the case.
Mishler was writing about the videotaped statement Kent gave investigators on Dec. 19.
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Thank you for posting this bigtire.
These charges are just what I was hoping for, one felony and three misdemeanors.0 -
an unfortunate classic example of stupidity & irresponsibility, a black eye to guns & hunting & hope they hang his azzzz out a long time.... 0 -
I agree, this is exactly what should have happened. The man showed no respect for private property or the law. While I know he will feel bad for the rest of his life, a young man died because of his willingness to do whatever he pleased. A hard lesson, but he should have already known better.
Mike0 -
Tommy made his choices.
Now he needs to be held accountable for them.0 -
quote:Originally posted by GUNFUNCO
Tommy made his choices.
Now he needs to be held accountable for them.
Yep!!0 -
Thanks for the update.
I hope the father is doing well...all things considered.0 -
Devil's advocate: A good lawyer will play on the theme that Kent did not see any people in the field before he shot. If the jury is made to believe that, it will make all the difference in the world to Kent's defense. Just a thought. Joe 0 -
Givette-you may be correct but the prosecutor will emphasize the fact that he had no business shooting into that land in the first place.
Just because a gang member doing a "drive-by" doesn't see anybody else in the coffee shop doesn't give him the right to shoot into there in the first place. How is this any different?
It would have been an entirely different story if he was legally there hunting on the property in the first place. That would have made this an accidental shooting.
If your illegal acts cause injury or death, you need to be held accountable.0 -
quote:Originally posted by GUNFUNCO
Givette-you may be correct but the prosecutor will emphasize the fact that he had no business shooting into that land in the first place.
Just because a gang member doing a "drive-by" doesn't see anybody else in the coffee shop doesn't give him the right to shoot into there in the first place. How is this any different?
It would have been an entirely different story if he was legally there hunting on the property in the first place. That would have made this an accidental shooting.
If your illegal acts cause injury or death, you need to be held accountable.
Might make a difference if the land was posted and fenced or not.0 -
There's always at least one bad apple in the bunch.[:(] 0 -
does not make a diff if land is posted or fenced or NOT...it is PRIVATE property....i do not have to put a sign up or paint every thing purple or take out notices in the paper...i just sent three idiots to see the judge on that very issue....land rented to the state for hunting is posted as walk in public hunting...leased land is generally posted by lessor as such......buaaturds i had never seen before stood there after driving a road across my planted wheat for two weeks & told me they had a right to do whatever they wanted, they paid $200 to lease 480 acres... NOT MINE...turns out they had leased 80 acres of open ground down the road....stupid dolts did not know their location...i am still MAD 0 -
Spasm, will the judge award you damages or will you have to sue them to collect? Tom 0 -
tccox...before i left they got to see game warden, sheriff, & deputy sheriff...stupid law here says its not trespassing unless you have informed them the first time & then they come back later or so i was told, so bozos pretty much get a pass ...blah-blah-blah...can't get much thru the system here, part time county attorney might have to work, but did get some smaller charges to stick & damages would be a civil action...upshot is they won't screw with me again 0 -
quote:Originally posted by spryor
quote:Originally posted by GUNFUNCO
Tommy made his choices.
Now he needs to be held accountable for them.
Yep!!
Thats what has to happen.0 -
quote:Originally posted by GUNFUNCO
Tommy made his choices.
Now he needs to be held accountable for them.
HERE HERE!
People in America are alowed to own guns and breed at will, dosen't mean they should....0
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