Becky Metrick

bmetrick@publicopinionnews.com

CHAMBERSBURG - A Fayetteville man whose accidental shooting of a hunting companion revealed he was in illegal possession of firearms was in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing.

Michael Linn Sechrist Sr., 42, is charged with four felony counts of possession of firearms when prohibited, plus a summary citation of shooting at or causing injury to human beings, according to court documents filed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission at Magisterial District Judge Kellyl Rock's office.

According to the documents, Sechrist and two other men were hunting for pheasants Nov. 16 in the Horse Valley Road State Game Lands, St. Thomas Township, when the incident occurred.

Sechrist and one of the other men carried shotguns. A pheasant flew over that man's head, and both he and Sechrist shot at it. Because the bird was between them, Sechrist shot in the man's direction.

READ: Police: Accused shooter fumbles feces in attempt to hide contraband

The man told investigators he felt pain in the back of his head and was bleeding. The group determined that when Sechrist shot, "one or more of the shot pellets from the shotshell he fired" hit the other man in the head, according to court documents.

Sechrist was using a shotshell bullet, which expels pellets when shot and is commonly used for hunting small animals.

A pellet was embedded in the man's skull. He was treated an an unspecified hospital and was released the same evening, according to court documents.

While at the hospital, Sechrist showed investigators the 12-gauge shotgun, a Braztech Taurus S121280. There was also 12-gauge shotgun ammunition in the trunk.

Investigators also found 12-gauge shell casings at the scene. The man who was shot gave investigators the fluorescent orange hat he was wearing at the time, which had several small holes consistent with the size of shotshell pellets, Investigators also found spots of what appeared to be dried blood.

READ: Police: Mom posed girl, 2, with bong

After the initial investigation, a Pennsylvania State Police corporal informed Game Commission investigators that Sechrist had a criminal history that prohibited him from possessing any firearms.

Court records cited in Sechrist's charging documents show he was convicted in 2006 of simple assault, for a case involving a 2-month-old victim. Because the case was related to domestic violence, Sechrist is prohibited from owning firearms.

Game Commission officials then found three additional firearms at Sechrist's home, including a loaded bold-action rifle and two .5 caliber in-line muzzle-loading rifles, according to court documents. One of the muzzle-loading rifles had a primer (the gun's ignition source) inserted.

Sechrist's wife initially said she bought all the guns, but investigators later found that Sechrist had bought one of them himself, from a neighbor. His wife bought the others from the same neighbor.

Sechrist had his preliminary hearing waived Tuesday, and is scheduled to have a mandatory arraignment on March 15.

Becky Metrick, 717-262-4762