An Oklahoma mother, Amanda Moffett, is now facing the possibility of prison time for a tragic incident back in 2018 that resulted in the accidental death of her 16-year-old daughter. The incident occurred when Amanda, believing she was protecting her family from a stray dog, discharged a handgun.
Unfortunately, her daughter was in harm's way, and the consequences were devastating.
Nearly five years after the incident, Amanda Moffett, a member of the Cherokee Nation, admitted her guilt in a federal court. She pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter in Indian Country. U.S. Attorney Clinton Johnson emphasized the importance of gun owners exercising extreme caution when using firearms, underscoring the tragic consequences that can arise in their absence.
On the fateful day in October 2018, Laramie Moffett had informed her mother about a stray dog attacking kittens near their home in Nowata, Oklahoma. Nowata, a small town, was once a part of the Cherokee Nation, and it holds the record for the lowest temperature ever recorded in the Sooner State. However, on that warm night, tragedy struck.
Amanda Moffett recalled, "I went out onto my front porch and fired a handgun, believing it was aimed at the stray dog. It was dark, and I was unaware that my daughter was outside trying to protect the kittens from the dog. I failed to confirm that my daughter was not in the line of fire when I discharged the handgun." She admitted that her actions were grossly negligent, posing a foreseeable threat to her daughter's life, ultimately leading to her untimely demise.
Laramie Moffett was an adventurous young girl who loved barrel racing at rodeos. Her obituary celebrated her fearless spirit and her achievements in rodeo sports.
Despite facing a potential sentence of eight years, Amanda Moffett's case is expected to result in a shorter sentence, thanks to a plea agreement between the defense and the government. The agreement takes into account various factors, including Amanda's acceptance of responsibility, the strength of the evidence, and the interests of justice.
A report by Joplin, Missouri-based NBC affiliate KSNF shed light on the case's long journey through the legal system. Initially filed as an intentional murder case in Nowata County, the case faced challenges, including discrepancies in the number of shots fired and disputes about the mother-daughter argument that night.
Amanda Moffett's attorney managed to have the state court case dismissed, but federal charges were later filed.
As of now, Amanda Moffett remains on supervised release, with no sentencing date set. Per her plea agreement, she must surrender her pistol and ammunition.
In another news, the family of a woman who passed away in a nursing home in Pennsylvania has taken legal action against a registered nurse already facing serious charges, including murder. See detailed story here
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