By Dawn Burleigh

The Orange Leader

 

A jury found Robert Hand, 53, guilty on Wednesday in the shooting death of Megan Smith, 25.

He was sentenced to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine for the charge of criminally negligent homicide.

At the time of the incident, Hand claimed he did not pull the trigger on the gun but the gun suddenly discharged and a bullet hit Smith.

The incident left two children without a mother. The children were at the resident at the time of the shooting but were in a different room.

Smith’s family has worked hard to see this case come to trial, never believing the incident was an accident.
Police do not believe the shooting was the result of a domestic disturbance or done out of anger but may have been accidental and done without intent to harm according to Captain Robert Enmon of the Orange Police Department at the time of the shooting.

Related story: Man claims shooting an accident