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Father Pleads No Contest in Son's Hunting Death
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St. Johnsbury, Vermont - August 18, 2009
More than 40 supporters filled the seats behind Kevin Kadamus of Wheelock as he agreed to plead no contest to manslaughter for accidentally shooting his 17-year-old son Jacob. The plea deal came 6 months after Kadamus mistakenly shot his son while hunting, believing he was a turkey, while the pair was turkey hunting near their home in Wheelock.
Police and the prosecutor explained that the facts demanded that Kevin Kadamus be charged with involuntary manslaughter because he negligently failed to establish his target and several hunters had been sentenced to prison in recent years for similar fatal accidents.
The plea deal calls for a 3-year deferred sentence, 150 hours community service, no hunting for ten years-- but no prison and no record if Kadamus stays clean for 3 years.
Caledonia County Prosecutor Lisa Warren explained that she agreed to the deal because it satisfies the needs of the law and compassion.
"There's enough punishment probably going within his own mind and his own heart that no punishment that this court could mete out could ever match that," Warren said.
"Obviously we had to bring a charge in this case but I think there is always room for the compassion of the court in dealing with a case as special as this one was and I think they dealtwith it appropriately," Vt. State Police Lt. J.P. Sinclair said.
"This provides an end to this proceeding that could have dragged out for a long period of time and it allows Kevin the opportunity ultimately and relatively shortly to wind up with no criminal record," said David Sleigh, the lawyer for Kadamus.
Kevin Kadamus declined comment pending the actual sentencing which will come within 30 days after a pre-sentence investigation. But his son Zackary, Jacob's brother, still wonders why his father was charged at all.
"I think they should have left it alone in the beginning. Like Lisa Warren said in the trial today, he can't be punished anymore and I think they should have just left it alone from the beginning," Zackary Kadamus said. "It's great that we can finally start healing and focusing on remembering Jake and his wonderful life."
One final poignant note to this tragedy: the plea deal comes just four days before Zackary Kadamus is to be married. His brother Jake was going to be his best man. Zack tells us he has decided that there will be no best man standing next to him at his wedding, but he is certain that his brother Jake's spirit will be at the ceremony ensuring everything goes perfectly.
Brian Joyce - WCAX News