A man whose grandson was shot and killed with a loaded, unlocked gun in his home was sentenced to a minimum of 38 months to a maximum of 15 years in prison for violating Michigan’s new safe storage law. Karl Robart pleaded no contest in August.
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In April, Robart and his wife, Theresa Robart, left a 12-gauge shotgun behind a bedroom door in their home, close to where their grandkids were watching a movie. Braxton Dykstra, 5, was shot when his 6-year-old cousin picked up the gun and pulled the trigger, unintentionally killing Braxton.
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Michigan’s safe storage law requires gun owners to keep unattended weapons unloaded and locked in a box or container if it’s known that a minor is likely to be here.
Robart told police he had no idea the weapon was loaded and said it has been in the same spot for ten years.
Ahead of the sentencing, Braxton’s father gave an emotional impact statement.
“The people we thought we could trust with our kids failed,” Domynic Dykstra said. “I will never get to hug my son again. I will never get to hear his precious voice or his silly laugh.”
Newaygo County Circuit Court Judge Robert Springsteed said Braxton’s death was avoidable.
“All you had to do was listen to the people in your life that were telling you to put these loaded guns away and you didn’t,” he said.
Braxton’s grandmother Theresa was also charged in the incident. Her trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 30.
Lauren Taylor
A MAN WHOSE GRANDSON WAS SHOT AND KILLED WITH A LOADED, UNLOCKED GUN IN HIS HOME WILL BE GOING TO PRISON FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS FOR VIOLATING MICHIGAN’S NEW SAFE STORAGE LAW.
A JUDGE SENTENCED KARL ROBART ON MONDAY TO A MINIMUM OF 38 MONTHS TO A MAXIMUM OF 15 YEARS IN PRISON.
ROBART PLEADED NO CONTEST IN AUGUST.
IN APRIL, ROBART AND HIS WIFE THERESA LEFT A 12-GAUGE SHOTGUN BEHIND A BEDROOM DOOR IN THEIR HOME, CLOSE TO WHERE THEIR GRANDKIDS WERE WATCHING A MOVIE.
FIVE YEAR OLD BRAXTON DYKSTRA (DYKE-STRAH) WAS SHOT AND KILLED WHEN HIS SIX YEAR OLD COUSIN PICKED UP THE GUN AND PULLED THE TRIGGER, UNINTENTIONALLY KILLING BRAXTON.
MICHIGAN’S SAFE STORAGE LAW REQUIRES GUN OWNERS TO KEEP UNATTENDED WEAPONS UNLOADED AND LOCKED IN A BOX OR CONTAINER IF IT’S KNOWN THAT A MINOR IS LIKELY TO BE THERE.
ROBART TOLD POLICE HE HAD NO IDEA THE WEAPON WAS LOADED AND SAID IT HAD BEEN IN THE SAME SPOT FOR 10 YEARS.
AHEAD OF THE SENTENCING, BRAXTON’S FATHER GAVE AN EMOTIONAL IMPACT STATEMENT.
“The people we thought we could trust with our kids failed. I will never get to hug my son again, I will never get to hear his precious voice or his silly laugh.”
THE JUDGE ALSO GAVE ROBART A CHANCE TO SPEAK BEFORE LEARNING HIS SENTENCE.
My daughter knows how much I love her. (crying) if I survive this I’m gonna do everything I can in my life to support her and her children.
BRAXTON’S GRANDMOTHER THERESA ROBART IS ALSO FACING CHARGES FOR THE INCIDENT.
HER TRIAL IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN OCTOBER 30.
FOR SAN I’M … LAUREN TAYLOR.
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Media Landscape
This story is a Media Miss by the right as only 0% of the coverage is from right leaning media. Learn more about this data
Left 33%
Center 67%
Right 0%
Bias Distribution
8 other sources covering this story
Total News Sources
8
Leaning Left
2
Center
4
Leaning Right
0
Last Updated
3 months ago
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