LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – The man
convicted of shooting a 12-year-old boy in the back during a neighborhood prank
has been granted shock probation.
The courtroom was full on both sides
for the very emotional Michael Bishop shock probation hearing. Judge A.C. McKay
Chauvin said he had more letters sent to him on this hearing than any of his
past cases combined, and it wasn't an easy decision.
On June 13, 2011 around 10 p.m. police said Jacob Eberle and a group of five
to six kids were playing a game commonly known as "Ding, Dong, Ditch,"
where someone rings a door bell and runs away. According to an arrest slip, the
group of kids were playing in Bishop's yard on Hall Farm Drive, which is just a
street over from where Jacob lives. Police said Bishop came out of his house,
stood on the front porch and racked his shotgun. Police
say Bishop fired his gun toward the kids and Jacob was hit. Jacob has over 100
pellets in his back and scars from being shot.
Jacob, who didn't want be there Monday,
wrote a letter.
His Aunt, Denise Spalding said, "I
don't believe 100 days is enough compared to the pain and suffering my family
and I went through."
Steven Shuster, a friend of Bishop
family said it has not been easy for them, "This has been a terrible mental
ordeal for this family. He has been shocked he, he has been punished."
In a plea to judge A.C. McKay Chauvin, to not release bishop, Jacob's
mother said her son suffers from panic attacks.
"He is not and has not
ever been sorry yet wants to serve a 100 day sentence of his 10 year sentence.
Jacob's sentenced to life and he's the innocent one. "
The judge agreed to
release Bishop from prison if he could raise the sentence from 10 years to 15
years. Bishop accepted the maximum sentence
of 15 years.
Leland Hulbert explained what that
meant from Bishop, "If he picks up a gun, if he drinks a beer, if he messes
with this family in any way shape or form he's going to go to prison for a 15
year sentence instead of 106:"
Bishop's shock probation was effective
immediately and Judge Chauvin said he wished Jacob was there so he could tell
them it was not his fault that this happened.
Copyright 2012 WAVE News. All rights reserved.
Michael Bishop
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