June 15, 2018
From 9and10News.com
A Northern Michigan judge has declared a mistrial in the case of a deadly hunting accident in Oceana County.
Roger Hoeker was a former hunting safety instructor for a youth outreach program.
Deputies say he accidentally shot 13-year-old William Gort Jr. in the head while hunting last February.
Gort died from his injuries.
Hoeker had originally faced involuntary manslaughter charges, but about six months ago a judge sent the case to the Oceana County Circuit Court on a lesser charge of reckless discharge of a weapon causing death.
Thursday, the circuit judge halted the trial after determining neither the prosecutor nor defense attorneys knew of a sheriff’s report about the shooting.
A second trial will be scheduled.