Crime & Safety

Brighton Man Charged with Open Murder in Gun Range Shooting Death

Jessce Lincon Stearn could face a murder charge for the shooting death of Charles Robert Kimball.

Updated at 11:45 a.m.

Livingston County Prosecutor William Vailliencourt confirmed that he has filed new charges in the shooting death of Charles Kimball.

"Based on new evidence, Jessce Lincon Stearn has been charged with Open Murder and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony," a press release from the prosecutor's office stated. "The murder charge carries with it a maximum sentence of life in prison and the weapons charge requires a mandatory two year prison sentence."

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Posted at 8:30 a.m.

Jessce Lincon Stearn, the Brighton man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter and felony firearms in connection with the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Charles Robert Kimball, could be facing a new charge of murder in Livingston County Circuit Court on Monday.

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According to a report from the Livingston Daily, Prosecutor William Vailliencourt confirmed he is seeking to withdraw the manslaughter plea and charge Stearn with murder due to new evidence in the case.

There was no confirmation from the prosecutor of what the new evidence was, according to the report. 

The shooting incident took place in June 2012 at the Livingston Conservation and Sports Association gun range. 

Livingston County Sheriff Bob Bezotte said back in October that Stearn and Kimball should not have been at the gun range that day and that Stearn was holding a replica AK-47 when it discharged and hit Kimball, killing him instantly.

Stearn originally told police the gun malfunctioned while he was cleaning the weapon.


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