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(Duchesne-AP) -- A man who pleaded guilty to the shooting death of his cousin at a Fourth of July party faces prison time.
Leon Lynn Hackford was sentenced to one term of two to 15 years in the Utah State Prison on second-degree felony manslaughter charges.
The 22-year old maintained the shooting on July fourth of last year was accidental. He told police he was drinking and goofing off when he put the nine-millimeter pistol to the back of Thomas Eldredge's head, but he didn't think the gun was loaded.
Hackford struck a plea agreement in October.
It'll be up to the Board of Pardons how much of the 15-year sentence Hackford will serve. But he will be given a year and a half credit for time served in the Duchesne (Doo-shayne) County Jail.
(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
