Man gets 7 years for killing son

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Stoddard County judge sentenced a Catron, Missouri, man to seven years in prison Monday afternoon in connection with the May 2012 shooting death of his son.

A seven-woman, five-man jury convicted Charles C. Goforth of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action after an April trial.

With its verdict, the jury found Goforth "recklessly caused" the death of his 20-year-old son, Patrick Goforth, by shooting him.

Because the elder Goforth filed a motion waiving jury sentencing before his trial, sentencing was left in the hands of Presiding Circuit Judge Robert Mayer.

At the conclusion of Goforth's trial, Mayer ordered and reviewed a sentencing assessment report by Probation and Parole.

Neither Goforth's attorney, Steven Wilson nor Stoddard County Prosecuting Attorney Russ Oliver called witnesses to testify.

The defendant claimed he acted in self-defense against his son and the shooting was accidental. There had been a confrontation over Goforth's concerns Patrick and his other son, Joshua, were involved in things of which their father did not approve.