The parents of a 3-year-old boy who died from an accidental, self-inflicted gunshot wound have each pleaded guilty to failing to properly store a firearm to protect a minor, a Class 1 misdemeanor.
The parents, Michael Ray Hatch, 27, white, male, and Kaitlyn Elizabeth Hatch, 29, white, female, of 6312 Kathy Drive, Mebane, had been charged last month in connection with the firearm storage violation that resulted in the death of their 3-year-old son, Hunter Lee Hatch.
Both parents pleaded guilty during their first appearances in Alamance County district court last Thursday, July 3. Each parent received a prayer for judgment continued (PJC), meaning that no formal conviction was entered, though the PJC will appear on their criminal record.
Neither Michael Hatch nor Kaitlyn Hatch had any prior criminal record. Nor did they receive any jail time, based on judgment sheets signed last week by Alamance County district court judge Bryan Ray.
Michael Hatch and Kaitlyn Hatch were each ordered to pay $183 in court costs within 90 days.
Mebane police had discovered Hunter Hatch inside of a vehicle with a critical gunshot wound after responding to a report of shots fired near the intersection of West Lee and South First streets at 7:55 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7, Mebane police said at the time. Hunter Hatch was taken to a local medical facility, where he died shortly afterward, according to the police department.
The accidental shooting reportedly occurred while a T-ball game was in progress at Walker Athletic Complex in Mebane. Investigators recovered a firearm at the scene and determined that a single round had been fired from within the vehicle, according to a subsequent news release from the Mebane police department.
Mebane police chief Mitch McKinney said in an earlier interview with The Alamance News that the parents had been charged with violating the firearms storage law after consultation with Alamance County district attorney Sean Boone.
As to whether the charges against the boy’s parents were compounding the family’s tragedy, McKinney told the newspaper that the child’s death was “entirely preventable” and that the culture needs to change to treat firearm safety more seriously.
Both parents were represented for their charges by attorney Donald Dickerson of Hillsborough.
