Bryant
An Edinburgh man originally accused of murdering his stepfather has accepted a plea bargain allowing him to plead guilty to the lesser of two felony charges.
Damion Bryant, 20, has agreed to plead guilty in Bartholomew Circuit Court to reckless homicide as a Level 5 felony. The crime that resulted in last November’s death of Wayne E. McGeorge Jr., 49, is punishable by one to six years in prison.
However, if Bartholomew Circuit Court Judge Kelly Benjamin accepts the plea agreement, the murder charge that carries the potential sentence of 45 to 65 years in prison will be dropped.
A waiver of rights and guilty plea states all terms regarding incarceration will be left to Benjamin, who can either accept or reject the plea bargain. The judge has scheduled sentencing for Thursday, May 25 at 3:30 p.m.
The shooting of McGeorge took place at the family’s residence off North Bluff Road, located in the Talberton addition of northwest German Township.
After a fight broke out between McGeorge and Bryant’s mother, the matter began to escalate out of control, a probable cause affidavit stated. While Bryant admits he was holding the gun when the bullet struck his stepfather, he claims McGeorge was intoxicated and physically abusive with the defendant’s mother. Bryant told investigators he began thinking during the fight that he may either have to punch his stepfather or shoot him, court documents state.
Bryant told officers his stepfather pushed on him and placed his hands around his neck, the affidavit states. The defendant says he pushed McGeorge away with the barrel of the gun, which then discharged into the victim’s abdomen, according to the affidavit.
Between now and May 25, representatives of Bartholomew County Court Services will conduct a pre-sentence investigation regarding the defendant and provide Benjamin with recommendations as to sentencing.
This story is by Mark Webber of The (Columbus) Republic, a sister newspaper to the Daily Journal.