An 18-year-old rural Salem man pleaded guilty in Marion County Court to three of ten charges pending against him following two La'el collins Youth Jersey shootings at a Salem party in January.
Tyler Caswell entered the open plea late Tuesday morning before Judge Marc Kelley to one Class X felony charge of aggravated discharge of a firearm, obstructing justice for disposing of the gun after the shooting, and unlawful possession of a stolen weapon. Two counts of attempted murder were among the counts that were dropped.
Caswell will be sentenced on May 31st at 11 am following completion of a presentence investigation report.
As part of the plea, both the prosecution Anthony Brown Jersey and defense agreed the sentences did not have to be served consecutively because great bodily harm had not been proven. Caswell's attorney Matt Wilzbach says that ultimately means Caswell will face six to 30 years in prison on the Class X aggravated discharge of a firearm charge, with the sentence on the other two sentences running concurrently.
Caswell pleaded guilty to the aggravated discharge of a firearm count involving the shooting of 20-year-old Jacob Hayes of East Lester in Salem. Wilzbach says Caswell had always admitted to having fired the shot at Hayes, although he had claimed his action was in self-defense to keep from being shot himself. Caswell had maintained the shot that struck 21-year-old Jacob Joyner of East Bennett in Salem was an accident when http://www.authenticnflraidersshop.com/shop-by-players-marcus-allen... there was a struggle over the gun.
Police later located a gun that Caswell had reportedly brought to the party, which resulted in the unlawful possession of a stolen weapon charge being added.
Wilzbach says the plea bargain was just worked out Tuesday morning before what was supposed to be the final pre-trial hearing in the case prior to a jury trial next week. Wilzbach says Caswell was looking at a minimum of 62 years in prison if found guilty of the charges. While Caswell could pursue self-defense, Wilzbach felt the plea struck a balance against what could be a much longer sentence.
Caswell remains in the Marion County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bond pending the sentencing hearing.
Both Hayes and Joyner were transferred to St. Louis Hospital for the treatment of their gunshot wounds, but both were later released andhttp://www.authenticraiderssale.com/shop-by-players-willie-brown-je... were present in the courtroom for Caswell's preliminary hearing. Hayes has since been arrested on drug possession charges and remains in the Marion County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bond.