(WWJ) An Eastpointe man has been sentenced to probation and ordered to forfeit his guns after his nephew shot himself in the foot while he was babysitting.
Laron Alston, 44, was watching his autistic 5-year-old nephew on Aug. 9, 2022, at the time of the shooting, according to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office.
Alston put his registered .40cal handgun on a reclining chair and covered it with blankets, officials said. At some point his nephew got ahold of the gun and shot himself in the foot.
The child was treated at the hospital for his injuries.
Alston was charged with second-degree child abuse and in February pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted child abuse.
On Wednesday he was sentenced to 12 months probation, restitution, no contact with the victim, Class A training, and he must forfeit his firearms.
The victim's mother was present at the sentencing hearing and was in agreement with the plea and sentence.
"Gun owners must store their firearms in a safe and secure manner to avoid children accessing them. This situation could have been much worse," Prosecutor Pete Lucido said.
