Wauseon man on trial in negligent homicide

8/18/2012

WAUSEON -- A trial was held Friday in Fulton County Western District Court for a city man whose gun was used in the fatal shooting in March of a local teenager by a schoolmate.

Judge Jeffrey Robinson listened to testimony from prosecution witnesses in the one-day bench trial of Craig Johnston, who is charged with negligent homicide in the death of 13-year-old Michael J. Schwartz, Jr.

No witnesses were called to testify by the defense.

Judge Robinson said he will take the case under advisement and issue a verdict in a week.

A shotgun owned by Mr. Johnston was used by Felipe Villanueva, Jr., to shoot and kill the Schwartz youth in Mr. Johnston's Howard Avenue home.

Young Villanueva, Jr., who told authorities he intended to scare his friend, was found delinquent of negligent homicide.

Mr. Johnston faces up to six months in jail if convicted of the first-degree misdemeanor.