Town of Geneva shooting; Steven Merkel sentenced, 25 years prison
Steven Merkel
ELKHORN, Wis. - A Walworth County judge sentenced Steven Merkel on Thursday, Nov. 20 to 25 years in prison plus an additional ten years of extended supervision in the death of his 8-year-old stepson, Michael Meagher, in the Town of Geneva last January.
Merkel, now 53, pleaded guilty in August to a single charge of first-degree reckless homicide in the death.
Steven Merkel statement prior to sentencing
Steven Merkel, a man who pleaded guilty in the death of his 8-year-old stepson, issued a brief statement prior to his sentencing in Walworth County court.
Judge's statement prior to sentencing
Judge's statement prior to sentencing Steven Merkel (part 1)
The judge issued this statement prior to sentencing Steven Merkel.
Judge's statement prior to sentencing Steven Merkel (part 2)
The Walworth County judge issued this statement prior to sentencing Steven Merkel.
Town of Geneva shooting
What we know:
According to the criminal complaint, police were dispatched to a residence on Lincoln Drive in the Town of Geneva early Monday, Jan. 20. It was reported a boy had been shot.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
When officers arrived on the scene, they came upon the defendant, Steven Merkel. The complaint says he "seemed frantic and was covered in blood." Officers were directed to the boy, Michael Meagher, who was lying on the floor after having been shot. Emergency personnel attempted life-saving measures -- and Meagher was taken to a hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
Michael Meagher
Later in the day, the defendant spoke with a detective from the Walworth County Sheriff's Office about what happened. The defendant stated "he did something stupid, and it wasn't the (Meagher's) fault that the defendant shot him," the complaint says. Merkel told police he showed Meagher guns "because it made the defendant look cool." Merkel went on to say he showed Meagher a stun gun and then went to his bedroom to get a 9mm handgun. Merkel told the detective he took the magazine out of the gun -- and did not believe the gun would fire without the magazine in it. The complaint says the defendant "stated that he walked out of the bedroom and pointed the gun at (Meagher). The defendant stated that the defendant pulled the trigger and was expecting it to click, but instead it went 'boom,' shooting (Meagher)."
Fatal shooting at Town of Geneva home
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
The defendant stated after the shooting, he called the boy's grandmother, who told the defendant to call 911. Merkel also stated that he "drank two little drinks of rum and RC that evening," the complaint says.
Town of Geneva shooting; Steven Merkel charged in 8-year-old's death
A 52-year-old Lake Geneva man is now charged with first-degree reckless homicide in the death of 8-year-old Michael Meagher.
The Source: Information in this post was provided by Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, the criminal complaint associated with this case, and previous FOX6 News coverage.