Prison term suspended

A deliberate shooting or a negligent accident?  The question was decided today in the Oconee General Sessions Court when the court allowed a 58-year old man to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter.  A sheriff’s officer and two sisters of the deceased wanted Roger Lane Qualls tried on the charge of murder.  But Qualls said, “I handled a gun recklessly.  It went off.” Prosecutor Lindsey Simmons said her office found no evidence of malice or pre-meditation in the shooting death New Year’s Day near Westminster of Kathy Elaine Owens.  Qualls faced the potential of five years in prison.  Judge Alex Macaulay suspended a five year prison term to two years’ home incarceration, giving Qualls credit for 242 days already served in jail awaiting trial since his arrest January 3.  Macaulay warned Qualls he faces a prison sentence if he violates five years of probation as part of the sentence.