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HOFFMAN |
Evan John Hoffman, who has already admitted shooting 16-year-old Branden Doseck and supplying a party of underage drinkers with alcohol, entered not guilty pleas Friday to the three felony charges he now faces.
The 20-year-old appeared in orange at the courtroom of the Logan County Jail and answered brief questions from visiting Judge Roger B. Wilson.
The judge did not, however, ask about the circumstances of the Dec. 26 and 27 party Mr. Hoffman hosted at his 6089 County Road 21, Lewistown, home that is located at the unincorporated town of Bloom Center.
Defense attorneys Ed Dougherty and Peter DeSomma were appointed as co-counsel for the defendant and entered not guilty pleas on his behalf to a third-degree felony charge of reckless homicide, second-degree felonious assault and a separate case in which he is charged with unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a fourth-degree felony.
Judge Wilson then set bond at $30,000 on the homicide and felonious assault case and $25,000 on the sex charge.
Mr. Dougherty reminded the court his client cannot be released until at least late June because he has already pleaded guilty to seven counts of furnishing alcohol to underage people and was sentenced by Bellefontaine Municipal Court Judge Ann E. Beck to spend six months in jail.
Mr. Hoffman, has said in a 911 call and in Bellefontaine Municipal Court that he shot Branden in self-defense after the boy forced his way back into the home where he had been allowed to party with other juveniles and adults under the age of 21.
A grand jury this week spent 12 hours considering evidence presented by more than a dozen witnesses surrounding the events that transpired at the party, including the incident in which Branden was asked to leave, what transpired after the boy left and returned later with a group of older men.
The grand jury was asked to consider self-defense laws and in the absence of such was given a list of homicide, manslaughter and murder charges to determine which they felt was appropriate, Prosecutor William T. Goslee said at the time of the grand jury.
Judge Wilson told Mr. Hoffman that if he posts bond after being released on the misdemeanor sentence, he will be on house arrest pending trial.
Further court dates were set for March 15 and 23.
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