HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — A man accused in the 2011 shooting death of a Vilonia teenager has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Cody Lynn Gorecke was set to go to trial this week on a second-degree murder charge. The Log Cabin Democrat reports that Gorecke entered his plea Tuesday night — after a day of jury selection and before opening statements were to begin Wednesday.
Gorecke was charged in the January 2011 shooting death of Amanda Allison. Authorities say the shooting happened at a party in Wilburn as Gorecke was showing off a sawed-off shotgun.
Allison died after she was hit in the midsection by gunfire.
Cleburne County Circuit Judge John Dan Kemp sentenced Gorecke to 10 years in prison on the manslaughter charge. He was also fined $10,000.
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