Mom Upset After Teen Gunman Given Probation
DENTON (CBSDFW.COM) - A judge sentenced a North Texas teenager to five years of probation after he pleaded guilty Monday to negligent homicide.
Nate Maki's mother said the sentence "hurts." She wanted Michael Bryce Underwood to serve jail time for killing her son.
"I'm sure he's going through hell too. I really do" said Maki's mother, Bonnie Tatera. "But not the hell we are going through."
The night before the opening of dove season Underwood, Maki, and two unidentified women went camping in rural Montague County.
Investigators said the teenagers were drinking when Underwood accidentally shot Maki with a rifle.
Underwood was indicted for manslaughter, but Monday it was dropped down to criminally negligent homicide allowing for a sentence of probation.
The terms of probation require Underwood to finish high school and speak at a gun safety class.
If he violates his probation, Underwood faces at least two years in jail.
Maki was a senior at Denton Guyer High School where he was the a star fullback on the football team.
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