SAN DIEGO (AP) — A man has pleaded guilty to the rarely charged crime of leaving a loaded firearm unattended after a San Diego County teenager shot himself in the face with the rifle and died.
U-T San Diego reports 50-year-old Kevin Brennick entered the plea Wednesday, marking the fourth time county prosecutors have pursued the misdemeanor charge.
Brennick is the father of a friend of 17-year-old Luke Lipscomb, who was smoking pot with his friends Nov. 4, 2011, when he picked up the rifle and shot himself between the eyes. He died two weeks later.
Brennick says most of his weapons were secured but the loaded .22-caliber rifle left on his kitchen counter was used it to kill "varmints" in his yard.
Brennick will get three years of probation and community service.
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Information from: U-T San Diego, http://www.utsandiego.com
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