http://www.spokane.net/news-story-body.asp?Date=071100&ID=s824951&cat=
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Charges pondered in shooting
Accidental gunshot seriously injured sleeping neighbor, but intent key to additional charges
Angie Gaddy - Staff writer
POST FALLS _ A Post Falls woman remained in intensive care Monday while police pondered whether they could charge the man who accidentally shot her last weekend.
Tara Ranae LaCelle, 20, was sleeping in her apartment at 1513 E. Third when her neighbor accidentally shot a gun into the wall separating their apartments, police said.
Shatana Shawn Pole, 22, who lives in the three-apartment complex, was arrested Saturday after he admitted he accidentally fired the .357-caliber revolver, police said.
He was booked into Kootenai County Jail on suspicion of obstructing officers after he first tried to hide the fact that the gun went off, said Post Falls Police Capt. Jim Simmerman.
Post Falls detectives are meeting with Kootenai County prosecutors this week to discuss the possibility of other charges.
LaCelle's boyfriend called police around 3:40 a.m. Saturday after LaCelle woke up and told him she couldn't feel her legs, Simmerman said.
Her boyfriend told police he reached over and felt her back, which had blood on it. A bullet had entered LaCelle's arm and side and lodged in her spinal cord, Simmerman said.
Police said doctors told them LaCelle may never walk again, but her health status was unclear Monday, said Kootenai Medical Center spokesman Mike Regan.
LaCelle was in KMC's intensive care unit.
Pole told police he had been drinking heavily Friday night and was handling the revolver when it accidentally fired.
While Pole has been charged with obstructing officers and has posted $300 bail, detectives are still looking at the possibility of other charges.
"Unless someone dies from something like that, we have few options," Simmerman said.
Prosecutors must prove intent for many charges, and in this case, it appears Pole didn't mean to discharge the weapon, Simmerman said.
The only other option could be discharging a firearm in the city limits, which is a misdemeanor, he said.
Neighbors said Pole's apartment was known for wild parties. That night, it appeared residents had been drinking heavily, neighbors said.
[/quote]
Isn't there a "criminal stupidity" law on the books somewhere?
pax
"A cement mixer collided with a prison van on the Kingston Pass. Motorists are asked to be on the lookout for 16 hardened criminals." -- Ronnie Corbett
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Charges pondered in shooting
Accidental gunshot seriously injured sleeping neighbor, but intent key to additional charges
Angie Gaddy - Staff writer
POST FALLS _ A Post Falls woman remained in intensive care Monday while police pondered whether they could charge the man who accidentally shot her last weekend.
Tara Ranae LaCelle, 20, was sleeping in her apartment at 1513 E. Third when her neighbor accidentally shot a gun into the wall separating their apartments, police said.
Shatana Shawn Pole, 22, who lives in the three-apartment complex, was arrested Saturday after he admitted he accidentally fired the .357-caliber revolver, police said.
He was booked into Kootenai County Jail on suspicion of obstructing officers after he first tried to hide the fact that the gun went off, said Post Falls Police Capt. Jim Simmerman.
Post Falls detectives are meeting with Kootenai County prosecutors this week to discuss the possibility of other charges.
LaCelle's boyfriend called police around 3:40 a.m. Saturday after LaCelle woke up and told him she couldn't feel her legs, Simmerman said.
Her boyfriend told police he reached over and felt her back, which had blood on it. A bullet had entered LaCelle's arm and side and lodged in her spinal cord, Simmerman said.
Police said doctors told them LaCelle may never walk again, but her health status was unclear Monday, said Kootenai Medical Center spokesman Mike Regan.
LaCelle was in KMC's intensive care unit.
Pole told police he had been drinking heavily Friday night and was handling the revolver when it accidentally fired.
While Pole has been charged with obstructing officers and has posted $300 bail, detectives are still looking at the possibility of other charges.
"Unless someone dies from something like that, we have few options," Simmerman said.
Prosecutors must prove intent for many charges, and in this case, it appears Pole didn't mean to discharge the weapon, Simmerman said.
The only other option could be discharging a firearm in the city limits, which is a misdemeanor, he said.
Neighbors said Pole's apartment was known for wild parties. That night, it appeared residents had been drinking heavily, neighbors said.
[/quote]
Isn't there a "criminal stupidity" law on the books somewhere?
pax
"A cement mixer collided with a prison van on the Kingston Pass. Motorists are asked to be on the lookout for 16 hardened criminals." -- Ronnie Corbett
